Why I Hate Abercrombie and Fitch

In the reading, “Why I Hate Abercrombie and Fitch” the author talks about a side of Abercrombie that people do not like to talk about, but still knows that it exists. First the author asks the question about why white gay men wear Abercrombie. Then goes on to talk about the history of Abercrombie and what it has stood for over the years. People may not realize the types of actions related to race and discrimination that has been associated with Abercrombie.
The author, Dwight McBride talks about the history of Abercrombie and how it all first started with David T. Abercrombie. Abercrombie was known to be the clothing store for the rich and famous. Some famous people that first wore Abercrombie included some presidents, Amelia Earhart, and Katherine Hepburn. The company was popular for selling clothes for both men and women in one single store. Over the years Abercrombie changed its headquarters and expanded its shops across the country. In 1977 the company filed for bankruptcy. Over the years other companies tried to revive what was still left of Abercrombie but no one succeeded except for Michael Jeffries. Jeffries hired a professional photographer and targeted the college students who were white and in the upper class status. The author states, “Abercrombie has worked hard to produce a brand strongly associated with a young, white, upper-class, and leisure lifestyle.” Abercrombie has a quarterly magazine that comes out and a look book for the employees. It was noted that, “of the group shots [in the magazine] two include the one African American model in these pages, while all of the rest of the photos are of male and female models who appear to be white.” Abercrombie has even faced a lawsuit because of the company discriminating against hiring people of color, and firing people for not fitting the “Crombie look”.
When the news of Abercrombie got out people may not have been too shocked about what was going on with the company. Why did people not say anything about the stores and what they were doing? Why did it take so long for a lawsuit to be filed? People wanted to keep Abercrombie an all white store but in reality that was never going to last. People do not realize how situations like this affect other ethnic groups looking for jobs. Discrimination will always be present in the world but Abercrombie seems to take it to a whole different level.
I was disgusted when I read this. Growing up I wore some Abercrombie but it was maybe one or two shirts I owned. People used to talk about me when I wore it and now I realize the true meaning why. I think that people need to wake up and realize times have changed and discrimination like this needs to stop.