Web-site post-Quiz 6

The Web page for www.dixienet.org, was the homepage of the League of the South. The LS group is a group of people who are Contemporary Southern Nationalists. A quote on the main page by Thomas Nelson Page says this “"I give my loyal and enthusiastic adherence to the present; with all its fresh and glorious possibilities; but I shall never forget that it is to the Old South that the New South owes all that is best and noblest in its being." This group has defined themselves, as a group whose ultimate goal is “a free and independent Southern republic. To reach this goal, we intend to create the climate for a free South among our people by 1) de-legitimating the American Empire at every opportunity; 2) by proving our willingness to be servant-leaders to the Southern people; and 3) by making The League of the South a strong, viable organization that will lead us to Southern independence.” The claim that the groups of people are all Anglo Saxon because they were the true creators of the American land, and they don’t want to ruin the image of the United States by introducing “aliens” to the country. They want to preserve the land as it once was.
However, the view of Blacks in the south is not as excluding as people would think. When people think of the south they think of Jena 6, and other events that have created tension between the whites and the blacks in the south. The President of this organization was asked the question “What are your views of blacks in the south?” and this is how he responded; “The LS disavows a spirit of malice and extends an offer of good will and cooperation to Southern blacks in areas where we can work together as Christians to make life better for all people in the South. We affirm that, while historically the interests of Southern blacks and whites have been in part antagonistic, true Constitutional government would provide protection to all law-abiding citizens — not just to government-sponsored victim groups.”
I found this website to be interesting. I don’t quite know what I was expecting before I went to it, but this wasn’t exactly it. I think I had the image of white supremacists that wanted an all white south and to bring back the old south and bring back the mistreatment of colored people. However, that was not the case. They simply want to pursue an Independent and Self-government. No where on the web page did I find hate against other people, or anything of that nature, I simply found a group of people who set a goal to change their government, and who are actively setting out to meet that goal. On the page I found nothing offensive, cruel, or racists against other people, which I have to admit I was shocked about.

Why I hate A&F--McBride

In the article “Why I Hate Abercrombie and Fitch” by Dwight McBride, he argues that the A&F brand is targeting a specific age, race, and social economic class. This brand is corrupting the way kids and young adults look at the brand and the look is that is known as preppy. He claims the brand is targeting young middle and upper class people. McBride argues that A&F is selling a lifestyle, not clothing. He argues that this is worse because people will compare themselves to that particular brand, and will ultimately be unaccepted in society, or be labeled as a “prep”, or rich, etc. He states on page 71 “A&F codes for race and class without actually having to name it.” On the Abercrombie website, you see pictures of young adults of many different ethnic backgrounds. As I recall there is an Asian female, a Hispanic male, African American Male, and a few white males and females. Based on just the ads, anyone could say they are marketing towards everyone. However, when you walk into a store nearly 100% of the employees are white, and the ones that aren’t are working in the stock room or working overnight stocking, rarely are they out on the floor. The ads in the catalog or on the website, do not represent the employees in the store. I think McBride talks about the song Tomorrow Belongs to Me because it resembles a time when minorities weren’t accepted in the world and when discrimination was at an all time high. One could argue that A&F discriminates against other ethnicities.
Don’t other stores have specific targets as well? Why would Abercrombie and Fitch be any different? One could argue that A&F have a broad range in people who are INTERESTED in the line of clothing, but either can’t afford it or aren’t accepted by the company. Other stores such as Hot Topic who tends to focus more on the Gothic look don’t have a wide range of people who are interested. That is the difference. Many young men and women of different racial backgrounds have a huge interest in the store, and want to be accepted but aren’t because they don’t fit the middle to upper class white image. If A&F opened up to diversity in and out of the stores, they would have more success, and less law suits.
I would have to agree with McBride. Every time I have been in a Abercrombie and Fitch store (which has been awhile) I have rarely seen a male or female of color in there, and if there is one they are always in the back of the store fixing clothing, stocking clothing, or running the fitting rooms. I personally haven’t shopped there recently because I can’t bring myself to spend the money on those clothes. Growing up we (my family) weren’t really able to afford shopping there, even if I could, I can’t say I’d waste the money. Part of me doesn’t shop there because of the discrimination they haven’t against other people, and a part of me doesn’t shop there because I don’t want to have that image or stereotypes that go along with that brand. I personally can find the same look, and quality of clothes somewhere else, somewhere much more affordable, and somewhere that doesn’t label, and somewhere that doesn’t discriminate against other people.