The blog Bilerico, based in Indianapolis and ran by Bil Browning has an interesting post about a laundromat ran by an elderly man in Richmond, Indiana called the U-Washee. The business was incorporated way back in January of 1962, under the name, Sipe Coin Laundry Inc., with an assumed name of U-Washee.
Below is the registration from the state of Indiana.
U-WASHEE (Assumed)
Entity Legal Name:
SIPE COIN LAUNDRY INC
3824 Indiana 121, RICHMOND, IN 47374
Entity Type: For-Profit Domestic Corporation
Entity Creation Date: 1/4/1962
The issue Browning has is the signage located at the U-Washee.
Keeping whites and colors separate: The “U-Washee”
Racism is ingrained in the Midwest
[...]
One of the best examples is the “U-Washee” in Richmond, Indiana. The laundromat is, literally, built on racist stereotypes of Chinese people and no one gives it a passing glance. It’s 1940′s era cartoon stereotype mascot, what Margaret Cho calls “feng shui hong kong fooey font,” and the extra “ee”s at the end of words in the business’s name and posted notices all combine to form one hellish timewarp into a past America most areas have forgotten but we tend to accept as typical – and no one utters a peep.
[...]
Another interesting aspect to this story is the financial angle. The unemployment rate in Richmond is 9.8%. Very few small businesses are succeeding. The “U-Washee” is entirely built around this racist theme and to remove the associations would cost a small fortune – new signage inside and out, a new name, changed business records with resultant legal fees, etc.
The owner is an elderly white man who’s barely making ends meet as energy costs and business expenses have skyrocketed while income has stayed the same. He’ll wash, dry and fold your clothes for you for $1 per pound. He provides a service the community needs.
[...]
I’ve not reached out to the “U-Washee” before posting these pictures and commentary. I plan to do it though, because someone has to speak up. I won’t demand or threaten. My goal is to help the owner move his business past the anti-Chinese racist stereotypes and not to shut the place down.
He stated, “the owner is an elderly white man.” How does his race have anything to do with it? Oh no, another “white racist”. What if he were black or Native American, would it matter? Bil doesn’t know the origin of the signs or if this guy is even the original owner. He doesn’t have any facts. Just some pictures someone emailed him.
At least Bil’s taking the high road and not threatening to have the guy shutdown. However, he should have called the guy first. People commenting on his blog now want to start a boycott of the poor bastard’s business.
This information is spreading across the internet, thank goodness. I hope it makes the mainstream news so that the complacent residents of Richmond take a stand against this blatant ignorance and insensitivity. I am interested in what the owners and patrons have to say.
The signs have most likely been there since the place was named the U-Washee back in 1962. I’m sure this elderly man finds nothing offensive about them, and I’m certain it has nothing to do with intolerance or insensitivity. Ignorance, sure.
Back in the 1960′s, we didn’t have the overly sensitive liberals meddling in the affairs of people they disagree with from a distance. Browning’s article could very well end up putting the guy out of business, and many of Browning’s more rabid followers would just love to see that happen.
According to Google, over 20 blogs are talking about and now linking to the article, but they appear to be exclusively left-wing bloggers. Maybe they should also be calling on Amazon.com to quit selling the book The Five Chinese Brothers.
From WIKI
Though often considered a classic of children’s literature, The Five Chinese Brothers has been accused of promoting ethnic stereotypes about the Chinese. In 1977, Albert V. Schwartz of the College of Staten Island criticized Wiese’s illustrations, saying that they portrayed all Chinese people with “bilious yellow skin and slit and slanted eyes”. Others have made similar accusations, and many teachers have removed the book from their classrooms. However, the book has had some defenders. In a 1977 School Library Journal article, Selma G. Lanes described the illustrations as “cheerful and highly appealing”, characterizing Wiese’s “broad cartoon style” as “well suited to the folk-tale, a genre which deals in broad truths”. She added, “I cannot remember a tale during my childhood that gave me a cozier sense of all being right with the world.”
And to clarify an error he made in his article – “There is one other laundromat in the city of 40,000 people.” There are actually a total of four laundromats in Richmond.
Browning: “Confronting racism is never an easy task. Adding in poverty, employment and basic living issues only compounds the problem. If no one is complaining, why stir up trouble?”
My point exactly. I’m not saying the pictures are not stereotypical, but how about just picking up the phone and cutting the guy some slack instead of making an obviously innocent person the subject of an attack?
You can read the article at Bilerico here.
AWB
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Actually, they did try to contact him via phone, as most responsible reporters are apt to do, but he couldn’t be reached. As you said, he is an old man and the business has been around since forever. The phone number is actually a payphone outside of the store if I am told correctly.
Also, it would be wrong if anyone, regardless of skin color, owned the store. While I understand the age in which this was created, you have to admit that it is pretty insensitive. I live in Richmond and unfortunately, this is the type of thing that I expect. It has very little to do with hatred, just ignorance. Most white people cannot understand how something could be offensive because they have never been the minority and have had to face that. Some of my friends are white and gay have some idea, but they still enjoy the privilege of being white and not being perceived as gay.
No, I don’t believe we should boycott his business. It is a relic of its time and should be treated as such. He is a nice old man who wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. But make no mistake, it is offensive and hurtful.
I find it interesting (rather telling actually) that no one has given this place a second glance from 1962 until today when a liberal blogger got an e-mail.
My guess is, that if ask someone in or around Richmond of Oriental ancestry, they wouldn’t and don’t give a flying fu&k about the U-washee laundromat.
Why is it incumbent upon white liberals to create a fricking problem when none exists???
I dunno, Tim…but I can tell you I’m living right smack in the MIDDLE of a fricking problem that THEY created, surrounded by OTHER problems they ALSO created (by allowing them to breed)…LOL!
“My guess is, that if ask someone in or around Richmond of Oriental ancestry, they wouldn’t and don’t give a flying fu&k about the U-washee laundromat.”
I guess its like if you grew up with ignorant people all your life…are you going to spend it trying to fight for something that’s really stupid but, only insensitive. I’m sure those people “oriental” ancestry” are not liking that shop but, its been there. They’ve learned to accept it why go against a town that relishes this type of caricatures. Does that make the entire town racist not quite but, it does show how the town as a small town that hasn’t changed much in terms of diversity. Hell most of them probably think the same as they did during the last 50 years killing the 6+ millions Asians in Asia. Also I can tell you don’t give a fu*k about this thing called racial sensitivity because to you it don’t exist but, that doesn’t make you a racist. Oriental is a backward term also. Just a FYI.
“arthur Skolovski says:
March 11, 2009 at 9:54 am”
Oh lighten up Francis, and good luck in your quest to make every square inch of the USA a bastion of racial diversity. I’m not gonna argue you point by point as it would be futile, but suffice to say, in my opinion, there are a multitude of social ills far greater than some old white mans “Oriental Laundromat” in Richmond frickin Indiana. This falls pretty far down my list of “racial problems that need my immediate attention”.
Get a fucking life.
To me I don’t care, i’m not oriental. I don’t care if the people of that town have a townies feel to it. Diversity to me and something that advances people, to you its people taking your jobs. Of course there’s a lot of BS that comes with diversity also. The true racial problem now is that its approach to it is Black and white. I don’t care if you’re town stay the way it been since you’ve known it. Change never should be forced upon people but, ignorance is bliss and easier. Cheer up man don’t have a cow man. I’m on your side. Its just good to understand differences of humanity and realize that we need to advance to stay competitive. Also what i’m sick of is the Black people saying we owe them stuff. Equality can only be achieved when nobody owes anybody nothing.
“Bil doesn’t know the origin of the signs or if this guy is even the original owner. He doesn’t have any facts. Just some pictures someone emailed him.”
“I’m not saying the pictures are not stereotypical, but how about just picking up the phone and cutting the guy some slack instead of making an obviously innocent person the subject of an attack?”
Base on the above two quotes from you, I wonder if YOU knew whether the elderly man is the original owner.
I’m also curious about how you came to the conclusion that the owner is OBVIOUSLY innocent, unless of course, you personally picked up the phone to verify it, instead of relying on just some pictures you saw on a blog.