The Association to Stop Racism Against Blacks

The Association to Stop Racism Against Blacks[1][2] (Japanese: 黒人差別をなくす会) is a private organization setup in Japan in 1988. Based at Sakai, Osaka, the association is known for causing publishers around Japan to suspend from printing Japanese localized versions of the picture book "The Story of Little Black Sambo".

Summary

The organization was initially formed by a couple, Toshiji Arita and Kimiko Arita living in Sakai, Osaka together with their 9-year-old son, Hajima Arita, on August 11, 1988. Kimiko Arita was the association's chairman and Kimiko Arita was the club's vice chairman. Hajime Arita was their treasurer. Initially they were the only members of the association, its membership increased to 135 as of 1992 February[3] and 225 as of 1995 December.[4] There is no report of recent activity from the organization.

Origin

In July 1988, Washington Post published a report titled "Old Black Stereotypes Find New Lives in Japan", which describes the design of a Sambo and Banana doll by Sanrio, as well as mannequins manufactured by Yamato Mannequin which were found in department stores, as discriminatory. Sanrio immediately ceased the doll's production and recalled all the dolls. However, after reading the report, the Arita family agreed with the position of the article that such an expression can be considered as discriminatory, and as a result they went to collect goods that depict black people from shops and start investigating how they are being depicted.

Activity

Activity of the association mainly include sending opposition letter against characters, comic, animation, publishers and corporate, for expressions that are being considered by the association as discriminatory depiction against black people, and occasionally include other racial discrimination.

The association have achieved following result from their achievement

  • As a result of their protest, publication of the picture book The Story of Little Black Sambo was ceased for some time from December 1989.[5]
  • Via reports from Washington newspaper, the family of three are welcomed to the United States by African American organization in August 1989. In the US, they met Jesse Jackson, a former president candidate, and Tom Bradley, Los Angeles mayor at the time. According to report from "Buraku Liberate" Volume November 1989, they were named as "Champion against discrimination"
  • Calpis food stopped using their black symbol mark as the association secretary from January 1990, who were 12 years old at the time, claim the symbol mark is a "typical discrimination"
  • Takara (Now part of Tomy) stopped using their "Winky Dolls" trademark.[6]
  • A total survey on publications with "black people" appearing have been conducted. In late 1990, the association have sent letters to all publishers, asking them to react accordingly before their given deadline. As a result, more than 300 volumes works have been ceased from publication for a period of time, including the like of "Kimba the White Lion", and the "Complete Collection of Osamu Tezuka Comic" which totaled to 300 volumes at a time was also affected.[lower-alpha 1]
    • The protest was noted in "Message from the editor" section at the end of the "Complete Collection of Osamu Tezuka Comic".
  • In July 1990, the association have made a protest on the Obake no Q-tarō, which include a chapter titled "International Obake Union", where an obake with an image of black people was depicted. As a result, some volumes have been recalled and ceased from publication.(Jungle Kurobe was also recalled and ceased from publication at the same time, but whether such committee have been involved in the process is unknown.)[7]
  • Showpieces in Osamu Tezuka Exhibition are replaced as a result.
  • In 1990 August, the association have launched protest against Dr. Slump by Akira Toriyama, Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo by Osamu Akimoto, Scrap Sandayu by Yudetamago, The Burning Wild Man by Tadashi Satou, and Tsuide ni Tonchinkan by Koichi Endo, that resulted in corresponding amendment in these works.
  • In 1992, they protested against the "GOMES" magazine published by Parco and caused it to be recalled.
  • In September 1993, they launched a protest and demanded for recall against a Sanrio picture book which have included an Ekai Uta song titled "Kawaii Cook-san" (lit. Lovely Mr. Cook).[8]
  • In December 1995, they launched a protest and caused the recall of Anmitsu Hime by Izumi Takemoto.
  • In September 1998, a souvenir doll that looks like black people from Okinawa removed from sale and a child park in Sapporo were renamed from "Kuronbo Park" to "Ohisama Park" as a result of their protest.
  • In June 1999, a protest against "Animal Kingdom of Osamu Tezuka" by Osamu Tezuka was launched, which resulted in tentative disturbance in release process before the protest being rejected.[9]
  • In 2000, Iwanami Bunko's translation of "On the Edge of the Primeval Forest" by Albert Schiweitzer was demanded for shipment suspension because of allegedly discriminatory expressions against native population in Africa.[10]
  • The event was also reported in America, which gathered support from organizations against racial discrimination on black people, but as described in latter paragraph it have caused criticism among fans of the series and commentators who support freedom of expression.
  • In 2002, they have again launched complain against Iwakuni Bunko for discriminatory expressions in Doctor Dolittle.[11]

Comments

As a result of their activities, stereotypical depictions of black people in media have become a taboo, author, publishers and editors started to impose self-censorship onto their works. It have been stated that the association's activity have caused black people being censored from appearing on commercial media.

Also, as their protest caused publishers stopped printing some older words, they have drawn considerable amount of criticism from the society. Their demand have also been seen as infringement on freedom of expression.

These requests are not considered illegal because "infringement on freedom of expression" usually only applies to action pressed by authority or government. On top of it, the association also launched complaints against works that have minimal appearances of black people. Some works are able to survive their complaints by refusal to comply with their request, but in some other cases, these complaints have caused authors to seal and suspend production of their works.

In 1989 April volume of "Buraku Liberate", the deputy chairman of the association wrote that "The picture book is just a piece of merchandise that discriminates against black people. No matter how well known the book is among the general public and no matter how valuable it is literature, that still does not constitute an excuse against the fact." which maintain their position without allowing any compromises. However, in response to interview by Nishinihon Shimbun, the deputy chairman tries to claim they don't want to extinguish the picture book.[12] But, when publishers are trying to discuss the incident with them, they have rejected to participate in such discussion. As of 2014, there is no public opinion available from them in any form of public communication channels like website or social network.

Notes

  1. ↑ After approximately a year of publication suspension, it was resumed from March 1992 March with an additional "Letter to readers" attached to it.

References

  1. ↑ Battling racism is a family affair Aritas, of Japan, fight negative depictions of blacks in homeland.
  2. ↑ Frederik L. Schodt (1996). Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga. Stone Bridge Press. pp. 63–68.
  3. ↑ Asahi Shimbun 1992-02-22 Morning edition 「気付かぬまま黒人差別　現状認識へセミナー　京都・田辺町」
  4. ↑ Weekly Aera 1995-12-18 「黒人差別　コミックス「あんみつ姫」も回収処分（ｉｎ・ｓｈｏｒｔ）」
  5. ↑ 西日本新聞「戦後60年」取材班　「シリーズ・戦後60年 人権の居場所＜1＞復活　差別論争に一石を投じ　絶版に揺れた童話―連載 Archived June 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. The Nishinippon WEB 2005-11-07
  6. ↑ Asahi Shimbun 1989-08-11 Evening edition 「米国の実情、この目で　黒人差別反対を訴えた堺の少年一家　【大阪】」
  7. ↑ 安藤健二"封印作品の謎2" (太田出版, 2006)
  8. ↑ Asahi Shimbun 1993-09-28 Morning edition 「サンリオが絵本を回収　市民団体が「人種差別」と指摘　【大阪】」
  9. ↑ Asahi Shimbun 1999-06-02 Morning edition 「黒人表現めぐり出荷停止　手塚治虫作品集　【大阪】」
  10. ↑ Asahi Shimbun 2000-12-12 朝刊 「「差別用語含む」市民団体指摘で岩波文庫が出荷停止」
  11. ↑ Asahi Shimbun 2002-02-04 Morning edition 「「ドリトル先生」回収論争　井伏鱒二氏翻訳に「差別的表現」」
  12. ↑ 「彼らも私も絶版を望んだわけではない。一緒に考えたかっただけだ」西日本新聞－人権の居場所 Archived June 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.

See also

Further reading

  • 徹底追及「言葉狩り」と差別　週刊文春編　平成6年出版
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