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Parcells' Use of 'Jap' Highlights Continued Efforts to Rid Texas of Racist Road Names

By CAROLINE AOYAGI, Pacific Citizen Executive Editor

Dallas Cowboys head football coach Bill Parcells has seen his name in more than a few headlines lately with his recent use of a racial slur to describe surprise attack plays his team has coined “Jap plays.”

Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys have since apologized for the coach’s use of the slur but Japanese Americans across the country have noticed that this recent incident has striking similarities with efforts to rid the state of Texas of racist road names like “Jap Road” and “Jap Lane.”

“It’s one thing if this were a slip of the tongue, but it’s a totally different matter when [Parcells] uses that word deliberately, knowing that it’s offensive and a racial slur,” said John Tateishi, JACL executive director. “It disturbs me deeply that he felt Japanese Americans are so inconsequential that he could use such an insulting word and get away with it because we don’t matter.”

“[Parcells] probably was not realizing that he was being a racist by using a word that he thought was acceptable,” said George Hirasaki, a Texan who has been fighting for the road name changes. “The residents of ‘Jap Road’ also said that they meant no offense by using the word. They believe saying, ‘no offense’ makes it OK.”

Parcells was speaking at a press conference June 7 when he used the racial slur “Jap” to describe a play used by his coaching staff. He was apparently referring to Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II in 1941.

“You’ve got to keep an eye on those two, because they’re going to try to get the upper hand,” Parcells said about Sean Payton and Mike Zimmer during the team’s recent minicamp. “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 making his comments he repeated, “No disrespect to anyone.”

Shortly after the incident was reported in several news outlets, the Dallas Cowboys organization issued a statement of apology. Parcells also apologized saying, “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.”

Soon after the apologies were released, the NFL announced their decision not to fine Parcells for his use of the derogatory term and that it would not review the coach’s comments.

But that reaction isn’t good enough for many JAs and Tateishi noted that the JACL will continue to press the issue with the NFL in hopes of opening a dialogue to discuss the league’s policy regarding racial slurs by coaches and players.

“This is something the JACL will continue to pursue until we’re satisfied with some results, which includes confronting the Cowboys organization and [NFL Commissioner] Paul Tagliabu,” he said. “I’m especially interested in learning why the NFL dismissed this issue so quickly and why they feel JAs and APAs can so easily be brushed aside.”

The Parcells’ incident coincides with current efforts by local JAs and various civil rights groups to rename various roads in Texas that still use the racial slur “Jap.” Late last year, a federal complaint was filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development asking Jefferson County to rename “Jap Road.” They are asking that federal funds be withheld until a name change takes place. So far, the road in Jefferson County still exists and the neighboring county of Orange has also kept its “Jap Lane.”

The recent Parcells’ incident “can be used to help educate the state of Texas that using such racial slurs in any manner will not be tolerated in this day and age,” said Texas resident Sandra Nakata Tanamachi, a plaintiff in the federal complaint who has been trying to get “Jap Road” renamed for more than ten years now. “Racial epithets certainly are not tolerated by African Americans or Hispanics.”

Tateishi noted that Parcells is originally from the East Coast but that the manner in which the Dallas Cowboys dealt with the situation highlights the need for more education in the state of Texas.

“I do think there’s something to be said about this incident and the way the Cowboys organization brushed this incident aside as inconsequential. Add to that the refusal of the towns in Jefferson and Orange counties refusing to change the names ‘Jap Road’ and ‘Jap Lane,’” said Tateishi. “In both cases, it’s a refusal to accept that this word is offensive to Japanese Americans. And even if they know that it’s a derogatory word, it doesn’t matter to them, to the Cowboys or to the two Texas counties. In a way, it’s racism at its worst when they know but continue to use it anyway.”

Ken Inouye, JACL vice president of public affairs, believes responding to the Parcells’ incident helps keep the focus on efforts to rename “Jap Road” and “Jap Lane.”

“Parcells apologized so this shows that this racial slur should not be used,” said Inouye. “Until these road names are changed we have to keep talking about this issue.”

He noted that educating Texans about the slur “Jap” is important but it’s a lesson that needs to be spread throughout the country. “It’s a good lesson for all people, people who haven’t had the opportunity to understand how hurtful this phrase is,” he said.