Date: : 06/11/2004

Bill Parcells, the coach for the Dallas Cowboys football team, apologized for using the racial slur, "Jap" when describing sneaky, surprise defense plays during a press conference at the Cowboys minicamp on Monday. John Tateishi of the Japanese Americans Citizens League responded and was quoted in the following ESPN.com article. OCA-Dallas-Ft. Worth Vice President Richard Chang also responded immediately with a protest letter to the editor of the Dallas Morning News and to Parcells himself. (attached below)Excerpted from espn.com news services, June 9, 2004: [Parcells was talking to reporters at the team's minicamp about how his quarterbacks coach and defensive coordinator try to outdo each other when he made the comment, perhaps a reference to Japan's 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. "You've got to keep an eye on those two, because they're going to try to get the upper hand," Parcells said about quarterbacks coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. "Mike wants the defense to do well, and Sean, he's going to have a few ... no disrespect for the Orientals, but what we call Jap plays. OK. Surprise things." After a murmur in the room of reporters, which included a Japanese journalist, Parcells repeated, "No disrespect to anyone."

"Bill Parcells is a brilliant coach," John Tateishi of the Japanese-American Citizen's League, a national civil rights group told DallasNews.com. "Unfortunately, he is ignorant about racial slurs. I take great offense by what he said. Parcells ought to know better. He sorely needs more education on what is offensive and non-offensive to Japanese-Americans. I am shocked that he would say this."

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple apologized on behalf of the organization, and Parcells later issued a statement. "Today during my news conference I made a very inappropriate reference, and although I prefaced it with the remark, 'no disrespect to anyone intended,' it was still uncalled for and inconsiderate. For that I apologize to anyone who may have been offended," he said.



 

June 8, 2004
Mr. Bill Parcells, Head Coach
The Dallas Cowboys
1 Cowboys Parkway
Irving, Texas 75063

Dear Mr. Parcells,

On behalf of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), Dallas / Fort Worth Chapter, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) civil rights advocacy and education organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates nationwide, I write to object to the multiple racial slurs and comments you used during your press conference on Monday, June 7, 2004. We are glad to see and hear your personal apology, as well as the a pologies of the Dallas Cowboys organization. We hope that you have learned from t his experience and will not engage in racially and culturally insensitive language or behavior in the future.

As a point of understanding, the term, "Oriental" is demeaning and derogatory to the Asian American community. It has negative connotations because it reflects European and American colonialist attitudes of the past. It is also a term that has been used to "exotify" people and products. For example: Exotic oriental teas, women, customs, foods, etc. A general rule of thumb is "Oriental is for rugs, not people." The correct term is "Asian". Therefore, your use of these terms devalues our progress in the struggle for equality, and dehumanizes people of color and reminds us of a shameful but very real part of American history.

Additionally, we were shocked to hear that any play within the Cowboys playbook would be referenced in such a negative, culturally insensitive manner. We seek to have you lead the effort to purge these types of references and usage from your playbook and the organization. Our hope is these types of references are not systemic within the Cowboys, or the National Football League as a whole.

Regards,

Richard C. Chang, Vice-President
The Organization of Chinese Americans
Dallas / Fort Worth Chapter
 

About OCA
Founded in 1973, the Organization of Chinese Americans is a national civil rights advocacy and educational organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Americans of Chinese and Asian/Pacific Islander descent. With over 80 chapters and affiliates across the country, it maintains its headquarters in Washington, D.C.