Why Do They Call It The Great Northeast?
Posted by Kirsten Henri on April 18th, 2008
A few days back, we came across this post from Joe Sixpack on a racist t-shirt he saw while on his way to a Phillies game. The t-shirt, from a bar in the Northeast called Casper’s, had a picture of the namesake friendly ghost saying “No Spooks Allowed.” We’ll let Sixy take it from here:
Please don’t tell me it’s an innocent joke; I’m not stupid. Only a dipshit wears a shirt like that. It’s easy to chalk it up to just one of those things, but I still wonder: How, in the 21st century, does anyone who conducts business with the public even think of printing a t-shirt like that? Honestly, the city Human Relations Commission nearly shut down Geno’s Steaks for less. Until I hear otherwise, I’ll just assume the answer is, “Because I’m a racist asshole.”
Bravo, Joe. We like you mad. We’d also like to point out that there’s a little cheesesteak place in the Northeast (and almost in South Philly) called Chink’s that is equally as offensive and yet food writers still swoon over it and write about its cheesesteaks and milkshakes–for example, Craig “I love the ones they make at Chink’s, the unfortunately named steak place in the Northeast, where they keep the milk in the freezer” LaBan–as if it was just some pesky nuisance to be brushed aside in the all-important pursuit of a great sandwich. If the beers were spectacular at Casper’s, would Sixy wiggle past the nastiness of the t-shirt under the guise of reportorial objectivity? We like to think he wouldn’t.
You know what we think it deserves? Pretty much what it’s getting now: its lease for a second location in South Philly was denied thanks to Asian American activists and some embarrassing press, like this recent article in the Washington Post.
It also deserves to not have its cheesesteaks praised on “best of” lists or its milkshakes drooled over by food writers and other media people who know better (LaBan is not the only one who has touted Chink’s. Philly Mag also awarded them best cheesesteak in 2002 and then there’s this thing). As a customer, you can also let your wallet do the talking. The owner knows the name is offensive:
[Owner Joseph] Groh likes the name, and does not see the need for a change. But he acknowledges, “I don’t think you could open a place today with that name.”
He’s had the opportunity to change it for years and he hasn’t. He’ll change if and when it starts to hit his bottom line (maybe he should check out the history of this establishment). Sad, but likely true.
Of course, Northeast Philadelphia seems to support it wholeheartedly, since it’s still in business and still named Chink’s even after this hubbub started back in 2004. This is why we hate the Northeast, except for the Grey Lodge Pub and Holmesburg Bakery. And since we grew up there, we can say it with real feeling.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
If you hate the northeast, THAN DO NOT COME AND VISIT US. WE DO NOT NEED YOU
April 18th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I find the name “Kirsten Henri” offensive.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Spectacular job missing the point completely, John. Ignorance is bliss.
If you don’t like what’s written on this blog, THAN DO NOT COME AND READ IT. THE BLOG DOES NOT NOT NEED YOU
April 18th, 2008 at 10:21 am
While Ch*nks is downright offensive (and the story of the owner’s nickname being “chink” doesn’t make it much better necessarily), I’d argue that the shirt is even worse. It’s one thing to call one’s shop an offensive term and make good (I’m told) cheesesteaks there. It’s on another level to produce a shirt that tells black people they can’t come in.
Both obviously should change, and you’re right to call food writers on condoning one and denouncing the other– I just wouldn’t equate the two.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am
The “Greater Northeast” is such a misnomer. One area of the City comprises approximately 1/3 of the City’s entire land mass. Of course you will find racist assholes there, just like you will in S. Philly, and in N. Philly and in W. Philly, and in CC (they just cover it up better), and in NW Philly–catch my drift? They’re everywhere. Now, the NE also has some of the most diverse population you’ll find in comparison to most of the rest of the City. Where else in the City will you find good, authentic, German sausage? Where will you find the best Brazilian restaurants? Where else will you find really good, hidden secrets such as Casa Del Dolce, arguably one of the best Italian bakeries in the City, even if everyone else runs to S Philly because of long held traditions and beliefs? The rest of us know better. Where will you find a grocery such as Dattilo’s, with similar goods to the old DiBruno’s and a butcher, and cheaper prices? Where will you find, anywhere else in the City, a place like Bell’s Market, where you can get all manner of European, *especially* Eastern European goods? Answer…NOWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY! So give it a rest once in a while. So Chink’s isn’t a name that you would give to a business nowadays. It is a pretty old business concern, AND there was a game we played with a ball when we were kids, a variation of wall-ball, called chinks, because of the sound the ball made. I had also heard that the original owner was named that because he played that game a lot.
I
I have no excuse for the moron in the stupid shirt. But I do think we are taking PC just a little too far.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I’m never impressed by the “we’re taking PC too far” argument. It’s too conveniently vague… How far is far enough? How bad does a racist slur have to be before you call people out for it?
Why not try this instead: eat at Chink’s if you’re not offended; don’t eat there if you are. But don’t justify yourself by telling other people that they shouldn’t be offended. It’s always worthwhile to think carefully about the ways we (subtly or not-so-subtly) condone racism.
April 18th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
An important topic, without question. But, is this what Foobooz is turning into?
April 18th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
You sorta had me till the end: “Of course, Northeast Philadelphia seems to support it wholeheartedly, since it’s still in business and still named Chink’s even after this hubbub started back in 2004…” It’s acceptable to paint the Northeast with the same racist brush, just because you grew up there and managed to escape to Center City? That smacks of smug elitism to me.
April 20th, 2008 at 9:53 am
When Chink’s prints T-shirts that say “No Chinks Allowed”, you’ll have a case. Until then, there’s simply no equivalence
There are plenty of actual outrages to get upset about. Charging malice where there is none makes one look silly, at best.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Mike,
No, that’s not true. The term itself is bad. Would a shirt that reads “I love k*kes” or “Fan of N*****”, etc. be appropriate? of course not. the term is toxic, regardless of message (except, MAYBE, when used to ironically subvert the word.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:52 am
I didn’t argue that the term itself is inoffensive (though I think you and Ms. Henri overestimate the degree to which it offends (I haven’t heard that pejorative uttered since elementary school 30 years ago)).
I argued that there’s a qualitative difference between a business with an active policy of exclusion - that wears racism literally on its sleeve - and one that is in the words of Laban “unfortunately named”. In the latter case, there is no exclusionary policy and no intent of malice
May 20th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Mike said : “I argued that there’s a qualitative difference between a business with an active policy of exclusion - that wears racism literally on its sleeve - and one that is in the words of Laban “unfortunately named”. In the latter case, there is no exclusionary policy and no intent of malice”
Very well said Mike. It was the founders nickname - like it or not. A successful business should be able to keep the name its had for decades. Don’t like it? Don’t go there. I see no evidence that anyone would be denied service in there based on ethnicity. Some of you really need to grow up - by creating a silly controversy where there was none you harm the very cause you claim to support.
BTW, I tried one of their cheesesteaks for the first time recently, and I have to say - it was among the best I’ve ever had. I’ll be back!
May 29th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
God bless Free Speech and Free Expression, huh, just as long as the other party’s speech doesn’t offend you. Then everything is ‘love and roses’. Typical liberal drivel… much like that foamy saliva that collects in the corner of Ed Rendell’s mouth when he speaks.
Get off your high horse, you pompous ass. Self-righteousness is so wrong.
Don Russell should stick with beer or report more black on black crime for a newspaper that’s no better than what I use to wipe my ass with.
If Don went to a Sixers game and sold a black guy wearing a t-shirt from Lou & Choo’s Lounge on Hunting Park Ave with a vaguely racist pun about ol’ Whitey, Don wouldn’t have batted an eyelash about it.
Stick to beer, Joe, stick to beer.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
BTW, Rory, no word is toxic. Be it NIGGER, KIKE, CRACKER, SPIC or the like. Not a single word or statement is toxic.
Forgive me if I’m stretching here, but it goes in the same vain as “Ceci n’est pas une pipe.”
May 30th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Robert,
right after getting mad about self-righteousness, a little bit of self-righteousness yourself coupled with some offensive terms? Stay classy.
Someone utters one of those words in a conversation, that conversation is now over. Good job.