English Flag Hoodie Looks Like Ku Klux Klan Outfit

[Izandai]

It doesn't look much more similar to the KKK uniform than the robes of the Spanish Easter brotherhoods, but to compare those two things could be considered offensive by a lot of people. Ponchos often have pointed hoods. The English flag has a red cross. People are overreacting, and the similarities are not that great.

I have never seen a poncho with a pointed hood. Although, now that I think about it, that could just be because I live in the U.S. and we're a bit more touchy about the KKK here.

[The Scientific States]

Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the KKK was active in the UK, so it doesn't have anywhere near the same cultural significant there.

Indeed. Not to mention, the flag wasn't intended to look similar to a KKK outfit, so there wasn't any wrongdoing.

[Nord Amour]

This reminds me of how I've heard of people discriminating against Hindus because they confused religious symbols with Nazi swastikas. It's understandable why these negative connotations exist, but they can hold society back.

[Saruhan]

Oh hey. a poncho. This is actually offensive to people. God help us.

[Threlizdun]

And swastikas freak us out here while they are accepted in much of Eastern Asia as symbols of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The Ku Klux Klan isn't historically relevant to the UK so this hoodie is a complete non-issue. The only people who would make that association are Americans, but considering the fact that Americans are not the natives of England, what they think about it doesn't really play that big of a role in what is culturally acceptable.

[Nord Amour]

I am somewhat ashamed of my American brothers and sisters for being so paranoid.

[Albul]

I can see a vague similarity, and perhaps a small design change is due, but it's sold in the UK and not the US. Nevertheless, you can count on someone to confuse that hoodie (if that's what it is) for a racist symbol. A white hoodie can get you odd looks from people in this side of the pond. I say this as an American.

[Albul]

I am somewhat ashamed of my American brothers and sisters for being so paranoid.

Well, the KKK was and is a paramilitary terrorist group that persecuted anyone that they felt was against them (e.g. blacks, Jews, Catholics, scientists, gays, etc.). The paranoia is quite understandable.

[Shie]

Grotesque, get rid of the damn thing.

[Edward Richtofen]

The Brits only know 2 Ks and that's KK Downing. I seriously doubt the makers were considering a racist American organization, given that there are many of them.
Regardless I'd say stay away from it because one it looks horrid and 2 we don't need he racists discovering these.

[Keyboard Warriors]

And swastikas freak us out here while they are accepted in much of Eastern Asia as symbols of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The Ku Klux Klan isn't historically relevant to the UK so this hoodie is a complete non-issue. The only people who would make that association are Americans, but considering the fact that Americans are not the natives of England, what they think about it doesn't really play that big of a role in what is culturally acceptable.

The only way it wouldn't be relevant would be if residents in the UK had no idea what the KKK was, which is a stretch as they're a pretty well known movement in western circles. I don't see this as a particularly big deal, but it's not because the KKK isn't well known in the UK.

[Llamalandia]

It seems like the problem is how pointy the dang hood. They should've added a few extra seems to round out the hood and there really wouldn't be much problem. I mean its the pointy hood part that's the especially distinctively element of the kkk robes.

Also kinda Ironic after the treyvon hoodie became partly a symbol for race. Now we have a kkk look a like flag hoodie oh well.

I would ask if this company makes any other flag hoodies and would be interested to know if they have pointed hoods or rounded hoods.

[Threlizdun]

And swastikas freak us out here while they are accepted in much of Eastern Asia as symbols of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The Ku Klux Klan isn't historically relevant to the UK so this hoodie is a complete non-issue. The only people who would make that association are Americans, but considering the fact that Americans are not the natives of England, what they think about it doesn't really play that big of a role in what is culturally acceptable.

The only way it wouldn't be relevant would be if residents in the UK had no idea what the KKK was, which is a stretch as they're a pretty well known movement in western circles. I don't see this as a particularly big deal, but it's not because the KKK isn't well known in the UK.

There are people in the US who don't know who the KKK is. To say that many in the UK don't know about them is by no means a stretch. To say that their first thought when seeing a white poncho isn't "Klan outfit" is even less of a stretch.

[Nord Amour]

I am somewhat ashamed of my American brothers and sisters for being so paranoid.

Well, the KKK was and is a paramilitary terrorist group that persecuted anyone that they felt was against them (e.g. blacks, Jews, Catholics, scientists, gays, etc.). The paranoia is quite understandable.

I believe that I've already addressed this in a previous post.

[Condunum]

I suspect the EDL will buy these en masse. Although, I don't know if they even operate anymore.

[Keyboard Warriors]

The only way it wouldn't be relevant would be if residents in the UK had no idea what the KKK was, which is a stretch as they're a pretty well known movement in western circles. I don't see this as a particularly big deal, but it's not because the KKK isn't well known in the UK.

There are people in the US who don't know who the KKK is. To say that many in the UK don't know about them is by no means a stretch. To say that their first thought when seeing a white poncho isn't "Klan outfit" is even less of a stretch.

Why do you think few in the UK would know enough about the KKK to be able to identify their signature white clothing? I'm sure there are people that don't know what the KKK is in and out of the USA, it's still a very well known and was a very visible movement. That the uproar against Asda was made by primarily british residents supports this also. And again, this isn't just a white poncho. It's a white poncho with a sharply pointed hood that bears an uncanny resemblance to the Klan uniform so it's not like people are drawing long bows to connect the two.

[Sturmtiger]

Isn't the KKK only active in America?

[National Socialist Korea]

The English one looks not only better, but redder.

[Ordysius]

It doesn't look close enough to be offensive. Also, it doesn't concern the US, so no one should be seriously offended.

[Phocidaea]

Lookkks like they'll be attending the sokkker kkkames as Enkkklish Skkknheads.

[Threlizdun]

There are people in the US who don't know who the KKK is. To say that many in the UK don't know about them is by no means a stretch. To say that their first thought when seeing a white poncho isn't "Klan outfit" is even less of a stretch.

Why do you think few in the UK would know enough about the KKK to be able to identify their signature white clothing? I'm sure there are people that don't know what the KKK is in and out of the USA, it's still a very well known and was a very visible movement. That the uproar against Asda was made by primarily british residents supports this also. And again, this isn't just a white poncho. It's a white poncho with a sharply pointed hood that bears an uncanny resemblance to the Klan uniform so it's not like people are drawing long bows to connect the two.

Most people don't know about the KKK for the same reason most people don't know about the Ulster Defense Force. There is little reason for people outside the nations they are within to learn about them. America is not an exception for this. Most people outside America don't know much about American history just as most Americans don't know much about history of other nations.

[Keyboard Warriors]

Why do you think few in the UK would know enough about the KKK to be able to identify their signature white clothing? I'm sure there are people that don't know what the KKK is in and out of the USA, it's still a very well known and was a very visible movement. That the uproar against Asda was made by primarily british residents supports this also. And again, this isn't just a white poncho. It's a white poncho with a sharply pointed hood that bears an uncanny resemblance to the Klan uniform so it's not like people are drawing long bows to connect the two.

Most people don't know about the KKK for the same reason most people don't know about the Ulster Defense Force. There is little reason for people outside the nations they are within to learn about them. America is not an exception for this. Most people outside America don't know much about American history just as most Americans don't know much about history of other nations.

So why was there considerable backlash against Asda then? You seem to be saying "The British won't care about this too much" after the story has already been broken, by British. To me it's apparent a lot of British know who the KKK is and what they wore.

[The Nihilistic view]

Yes just like the KKK outfits that have big red crosses across the back with the word "ENGLAND" pasted across them. Oh wait................

[Atlanticatia]

It does kinda resemble it, but isn't the KKK kind of irrelevant there?

[Threlizdun]

Most people don't know about the KKK for the same reason most people don't know about the Ulster Defense Force. There is little reason for people outside the nations they are within to learn about them. America is not an exception for this. Most people outside America don't know much about American history just as most Americans don't know much about history of other nations.

So why was there considerable backlash against Asda then? You seem to be saying "The British won't care about this too much" after the story has already been broken, by British. To me it's apparent a lot of British know who the KKK is and what they wore.

Because it's the freaking Daily Mail. All they publish is sensationalist bullshit. Let's search on the BBC for this. What do you know? The story can't be found. How do I explain why the British are freaking out about this? Quite simply, they aren't.