Meanwhile, On TumblR: Wuthering Heights Reimagined And The Gap’s Anti-First Nations T-Shirt

October 18th, 2012 by Andrea

Via Huffington Post.

And indigenous artists and activists called them out on it. From Indian Country Today Media Network:

William S. Yellowrobe, a Native poet and playwright, has posted this response to the t-shirt:

Let me get this straight? The Gap wants to sell T-shirts that read; “Manifest Destiny”? “The Only Good Indian is a Dead Indian” was taken? “Kill the Indian save the Man” is going to be used in their back to school designs for next year? I know this sounds blunt and harsh, but we have to remember. People, thousands of people, Native people, who were not even considered human beings, died during this arrogant and pompous proclamation. This is another episode of American history where an idea, or arrogant statement, lead to the demise of Native people. This isn’t racism, this is a part of the racism that lead to genocide. Maybe a friend of mine is right. GAP should come out with a “Final Solution” T-shirt, or a “Got Slaves,” t-shirt. Because this issue involves Native people specifically maybe the GAP hopes there will be no one to call them on it…Just one of those Indin Thinkin’ thoughts by me…

Thanks in no small part to the online pushback, the Gap removed the item and apologized, complete with the fauxpology spin of “We’re so hurt you called us racist.” From the Huffington Post:

On Tuesday, Gap finally released a statement (a hilariously staid one, in our opinion): “Thank you for your feedback regarding the “Manifest Destiny” t-shirt. Based on customer feedback, we will no longer offer the t-shirt in our stores or online.” McNairy [the t-shirt's designer] also issued an apology tweet yesterday, saying that “IT HURT ME DEEPLY TO BE CALLED A RACIST.” (He apparently remains, however, a staunch fan of caps lock.)

And lo and behold, the link to the tee on Gap’s website now displays a “product not found” error.

See what and who else have Tumblizens talking on the Previous page

Posted in Meanwhile On TumblR, activism, american indian/native american/first nations, black, casting, classics, colonization/colonialism, film, first nations/indigenous people, history, indigenous peoples, internet, movies, racism nostalgia, representations, white supremacy | 6 comments

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  • D

    Actually, the book describes him as possibly “Lascar”, an old term for Indian sailors…

  • Eccaba

    Indeed. The book also describes Heathcliff as a “gypsy”. The Romani are descended from India. However, there’s no indication in the story that this is related to the history of African slavery. I think there is a lot of racial tension in the original but more so in relation to fear of immigrants and the problems of colonialism. That said, I think that this film is a fine idea and could be very interesting. However, it’s still a re-imagining of the story and its certainly not cannon.

  • Eccaba

    To be clear I think the biggest problem with calling it “cannon” is treating all POC as interchangeable. Although I think that even if the film was supposed to be true to the book (which I don’t think it sets out to do) I suppose its still a better option than changing Heathcliff to white.

  • http://www.facebook.com/X23sexy Wong Chia Chi

    Heath cliff being of color works for me. I have a lot of problems with Wuthering Heights. But the film was good. The best adaptation I’ve seen. It just works on a number of levels. And I like Arnold’s work.

    Bit offtopic but…Weren’t Cathy and Heathcliff, half siblings? It doesn’t state that, explicitly, but I always thought it was implied that Heathcliff was Earnshaw’s child. I can’t imagine why else he would randomly pick up a child from the streets to raise unless he felt obligated to take care of him. Class and color issues aside.

  • D

    My guess is that they took it from Wayne Dyer, a motivational speaker who has a book called Manifest Your Destiny. Still doesn’t make it right.

  • D

    My guess is that they took it from Wayne Dyer, a motivational speaker who has a book called Manifest Your Destiny. Still doesn’t make it right.