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"Tsunami Song" Host Miss Jones Returns

By Jennifer Fang and James Fujikawa | Special to Yellowworld.org
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Amid a chorus of protest from community leaders and organizations, Hot 97 WQHT-FM radio host Miss Jones returned to the airwaves last Friday, a month after airing a racist song parody that ridiculed victims of last December's south Asia tsunami, calling them "screaming chinks" and "little Chinamen."

The outspoken shock jock had been suspended indefinitely by the station in response to intense public pressure from Asian American community leaders and groups, who were incensed not only by the airing of the parody, but also by her on-air defense of its broadcast, which included making racially disparaging remarks to a morning team member of Asian descent.

Yet upon reinstatement, a seemingly subdued and reformed Miss Jones offered a rehabilitated perspective: using blatantly offensive Asian slurs and race-based hate speech over the airwaves was merely "poor taste."

"I should have known better and I didn't," said Jones. "So I'm sorry and hopefully we can move forward from this."

The reinstatement comes just two weeks after the station's parent company, Emmis Communications, released a statement announcing their decision to fire co-host Todd Lynn and morning show producer Rick Del Gado for "socially and morally indefensible" conduct. The company further pledged to donate $1 million to tsunami relief efforts.

Critics, however, were less than appeased.

"We are not looking for sacrificial lambs. We are looking for real change and remorse," said Doris Lin, Executive Director of Asian Media Watchdog, who along with Asian Media Watch, were instrumental in coordinating grass-roots efforts thus far.

Elbert Oh, founder of Yellowworld.org, a not-for-profit organization specializing in web advocacy campaigns, contends that as long as Miss Jones remains in the broadcasting booth for Hot 97, the public should assume that the station condones hate speech.

"I'm astounded that a publicly-traded company would send such mixed messages to its stock holders, sponsors and advertisers by continuing to broadcast her show," he said. "So what if she says 'sorry' now? The bottom line is that people will remember her and the show for promoting racist content."

Local elected officials similarly condemned the station's actions.

"This type of hate...is an attack against the Asian community," said New York City Councilmember Christine Quinn. "If they don’t fire the people responsible, we’ll close them. The more time goes by, the more people will be responsible."

Further information regarding this event can be obtained by emailing alerts@asianmediawatch.net and dlin@asianmediawatchdog.com.