Title: My T-Shirt Says it All #38-09 September 23, 2009

" How who'd been walk around -- this week on making contacts -- registered says. I ordered my bride from Paul frank stuck car."

" The -- It can be meanness artistic -- three and political."

" Pressure like that you know with the state and -- a chance really. Says what might be on your mind and -- his review what can read it and you don't have can't withstand the pressure for him."

" The teachers as a staple of the American wardrobe worn by pretty much everyone it's a sort of common denominator in a culture marked by differences. On this edition will hear how free teacher designers use the garments as a way to fight racism. Communicate cultural identity. And -- friends who passed away. I'm Tina rubio and this is making contact the program connecting people out of ideas and important information."

" In a special collaboration between national radio project and the UC Berkeley graduate school of journalism. -- producer Jake -- and brings us the story."

" My teacher and says I love the rational and then I had and why it's being rule green orange and dismissed numerous news. You know."

" T shirts are very egalitarian. You can come from just about Amy. Social strata and T shirt is often the most appropriate thing to wear him from Russia says the -- drinking -- flaky and second."

" Did he should lose the benefit of living in a free society I mean you know you -- say what you will about the electoral process alarm. -- about you know the fairness of our society but. In this country anyone can wear a T shirt that says anything do do you just readers -- tell -- what it says and what but it looks like."

" I mean everything short if you. Right if you can't pay out what the big dogs stay out of the art isn't what this certain things to me is American pride."

" It's -- Sullivan laden I. Marking zombie Reagan versus them."

" I'm fine if that's your pain it's brown and then as sixteen inch pianist a semis you're growth through guys because from a church retreat Tenet on."

" It's just like eye catching up and it sell out of -- it's it's almost offensive -- that's violent. Demise. Through our -- teachers. This as a few Muslim on the track who we think about the brand I don't mean yeah."

" It's just I'd just like that continent here can't mommy's --"

" And describe it looks like. Some kind of rallying can close. Some water rose."

" It has a Warner Bros. logo on and just basically warning you you know from policemen so he -- of those guys -- gets."

" What he wanted to express them on the T shirts."

" This people CNN can now it's not like you don't have to hand and literature and they just remind them oh yeah there's -- fourth without."

" The T surge began life sometime in the early nineteen hundreds as underwear Stevie. But then during World War II some sweaty soldiers stripped."

" Nothing other shirts and just went around to their -- Since Woody Allen Paulson had to. Nowak during history has ever made such an impact in a single role as Marlon Brando I have."

" And now the humble teacher it is outerwear and it's everywhere. But it's not just like a pair of team."

" Is like a walking massive. More like billboard type thing as a way to communicate with someone without talking to go."

" And maybe that's -- T shirts are so popular and because they're so popular and so expressive. Maybe someone should collect the."

" I'm not paying his brooks mind your list she works at the Oakland Museum in and curator. Of costume and textiles at the Oakland Museum that California."

" And the museum collects T shirts. Going all the way back to the 1950s. It would make a great garage sale but instead the museum hangs on to these old hand me down."

" We are. A very diverse. Group of people we can't. Theory diverse ideas. And -- I think that T -- kind of help get -- across new explain merely -- incident. I am working with our our guests computerized. Collection system. And I have put in. To -- teacher. And now it's going to pull up all the T shirts that we can have so you can. Oh this one's slightly outrageous. This was a souvenir from. The King Tut exhibition is held over in San Francisco. And -- there are two large. Heads of king touched strategically placed. When Hoover. I if you're dressed. He and -- continued to. Across the chest says don't touch my tests here."

" Small yes. Right -- as selling feature that some kind of hundreds you know -- I don't know witness. How to -- this place it's it's somewhere in west Los Angeles and the place is packed with fashionable young Angelina. There's sipping Marleau were helping rolling rock and when they're not bidding on painting their photos they're buying. It. It's a pretty light show they -- six -- seven dense. I think it set up -- and it's kind of like when those things that he had DST shirt -- this is that they grind. Go from boots -- thing shoot shell suit who runs a company called black lava these Japanese American. And the teacher teammates are mostly about Asian identity and stereotypes. Like this one it's a plain black tea and across the test it says."

" Isn't it is not Korean -- I think a lot of white and LA's well intentioned people still saying --"

" Koreans without realizing what their game some of the shirts make fun of stereotypes one says in plain white letters I speak English. About what I second -- The second half plus you got to be at the nation's toughest things yeah that's my design team."

" Fire -- dramatize what you remember. Two friends -- looking over the merchandise they're both white and they're trying to decide if they can get away with wearing the shirts recently took. And that's where this little white man."

" Israel this as a white -- right now on the streets and you. Well everything. I can walk around it -- and the -- people might think that you're being like -- not -- effectively -- equipment. But actually I looked around. My neighbor and I would be. Which they profiled sensitivity when it went down -- evidently. -- municipalities yeah we are missing and -- and that -- think that it."

" Right now we're in. My warehouse in Torrence California that's Ryan suited again inside the warehouse that spotless in the walls are lined with shelves and shelves from like 8000 teacher it's now is a -- remember her. It's a -- okay maybe two or 3000 but each one is meticulously folded and packed and placed on the appropriate shelf that's carefully labeled. Although an army of unpaid workers. Actually it's sued his mom she comes in and folds all the shirts and ships them out to his night teasing get paid so it's definitely a family business. Just a few years ago suitor and the whole operation out of his apartment with the shirts are stacked up in his living room. Then in 2002. He made a teacher that became very popular."

" That sure it was one of her very first kind of fire old shirts. Where people like to have have to have a picture he tapped into some collective anger which it turns out can be very good for business. It all started when back in 2002 Abercrombie & Fitch put out a series of shirts. With an Asian theme. -- to appeal says the Asian people that's what they said. Andy's shirt consisted of very stereotypical. Images. So many died but -- type characters. We had this when shirt that said the long -- entry. And -- she likes stereotypical. Characters and then the one of the sings on there was too long -- it will light. The largest ever came from that captured particular. Like you were pissed off you know and they're protesting in front of Abercrombie and finch in Sony had come at me and said hey you know are you gonna make sure you know announcement. Okay Agassi. Site set down in the united slick we'll win him any do you know here and Abercrombie Fitch Abercrombie and fiction is trying to fights and their rhymed with that and what we came up with was. Artful bigotry and -- so we did in the same finest Abercrombie shirt. And then on the back public well you know I think the dressings used kind of click archive. This scene a couple of times. Stuff like this happened the people kind of forget about it. And then move on but at the same time I feel like you have to kind of learn from history. On city it does and hopefully does come up again. And it also holds people accountable for what they've done X specially if in Abercrombie situation. Didn't apologize you know they basically said. We're not -- is we're not trying to offend anyone and you guys just need to -- personality. Where -- team where. And it has nothing to do with that I mean those images were used in a lot of propaganda. Back during the days when the product Chinese people and to build railroads. There's all this he -- suppression. And racism. That surround those images. That entire -- exit after artful bigotry in kitsch."

" Ignorance and racism excuses. 2000. And underneath it said. The struggle. Still continues. What's your response to ushered -- Nancy -- them a long time that your. You guys don't know about the phrase I mean. I don't know it's it's been in in media so long that people are going nowhere came from. I would melody -- time shirt came from a freeze. Me so horny you love you long time. Which came from the movies like Stanley Kubrick called full metal jacket in the system -- eighties. But before you know. They had this scene. Yeah. Yeah."

" Well maybe. These cell -- need. Time."

" Yeah and that's how the scene goes. When it became very popular way it's a little later in the ninety's -- group called two live crew took this sound bites and did in their son. -- And which this is pretty popular songs and when I was small thing you could -- it's so funny because like back then and never have done and that's. Asian anything you know malicious part of back and -- because he is sick and we listened to -- you know released the music. But like scene after that and even to this day you know I think a lot Asian women. It approached with that very line he had any we've got below."

" Oh. This is this just kind ninths. It's from the California Indian basket weavers gathering that was held. In 1997. And it is designed by a might do artist. And the motif is a basket weave design. By the -- movies music teacher -- I think it might be to raise awareness that natives people native. Native Californians Indians. Are still here that there are not part in the past. It's it's just. Another one of these. Prostitutes statements. Group identity. And you can wear and you can move around. Within. A city yours stage and you're bringing. Identities. And in this constitutes statement with you. I think it's it's very interesting."

" You're listening to making contact a production of the national media projects. If you like more information -- for CD copies of this -- and please call 805295736. You can also download programs or get her podcast at radio -- right. We now return to my teacher sent Saddam it is by UC Berkeley journalism graduate student -- offense and."

" These and that I had AM Bettie BC's that it sciences which hit a home me in my native graphics brings up. Yeah. What time is not put any glad that I. I'm thinking like point seven. In a tiny."

" Print shop sandwiched between a dance -- downstairs its offices upstairs. Studied Sanchez's printing arrest order a teacher. The ceilings are low and a massive teacher prayers roaring -- That teams are strong and floor fans are straining the second some fresh air. The shop is in San Francisco's mission district it's a neighborhood that's traditionally the center of Latino culture in the Bay Area. And Sanchez who is the master printer here at home -- that monster thing too well how Hamas that I -- up PA. Three making it well anyway he works the army is racing to finish this order and he's getting distracted telling me about some of his teacher designed. One of his favorites has a photo Geronimo the Apache chief. And then under that says secretary of defense."

" You're one that we did in the same way whether. Oh yeah did or regional father so our nation we use the images sold for needy people. From the US what -- more heat and cool. Com red -- And keep just that. And we use. Mark Ross -- and got a real. Those guys and we use the each of these four million people. So because people everything that they're the artful. Or regional founding -- they -- it."

" It's such as as working by himself gets too high school -- After all the whole point of home means to reach out to kids in the neighborhood keep them off the streets out of gains. Instead they -- to make T shirts from using Photoshop and hijacking images off the Internet and making silk screens. Squeegee needing -- fresh T shirts."

" That means because you moved heaven or nothing on the squeegee. -- this morning. The I don't know you wanna use of being a -- The only problem these when he may be the cause he's so why there. He -- for more strange yeah."

" I'm torn for a is I don't wanna do and an intern where renowned design and I'm making my own designs from me what's with the design that you were -- all right now. There's is road sign. A lower this San Diego freeways. That refer to as a race is no sign. Has to read Terry designing. And no running through it like -- those I mentioned before. Immigrants crossing the border so."

" if you don't live in San Diego these are big yellow freeway signs near the US Mexico border. Like a deer crossing sign but instead of leaping deer says running family."

" And I'm I'm basically make an issue and about that. It's just a big triangle right to original rose hard -- there with people running through it. And with lettering saying we were in this what do you think that shirt says -- what do you wanna say with a when you learn. I mean that basically they can run this country without an justice are obviously. The markets have fruits and hearing their sense because Lewis."

" Always uses him."

" And using confidence because they see something that they made themselves. And you know nobody nobody can be -- for them. And apparently that's no recently had a he also works and on the screen printing operation. He started out just like Jordan as an intern about ten years ago before that -- with you know I you don't. Banging you know owns the loyal fan of being Sonoma lake. Cousin and the -- community groups and that's Clinton I was going to zoom and when he started interning -- Making -- it's kinda changed his life. I was real good I mean you know -- loans musical elected acknowledgment concerns abilities is eliminated. You know than anybody who -- so. Now known as late June and -- only -- those keys that proved so."

" Another former intern is -- communities."

" I got involved in homey I'm a -- in any art lies right parallel com and went home he was being created. I was becoming the ping that means -- to prevent and the thing there are trying to prevent his kids causing havoc -- selling drugs. Knocking an aces -- executive director but when I actively got involved with home he was when I first came out of prison. There about 2003 early 2003. And I was obligated to do community service. I'm buying you -- federal government that's part of my plea agreement among had a hundred hours to do and I thought -- walked into. In an organization that I knew people were working and have them just signed the documents that. I've been here since I'm one of I would say one of whom he success stories to TO one and do some kind of work like this have to finish school. Fisher because. From me. Art is really in my way at a school because I am I really -- any other subjects some of our young people virtually."

" Been out on and on the block on the street selling drags. And so they already have the answer from your skills to be able to make money what they're doing is they're taking the skills. And those hustling skills and applying it to his teacher sale where they can't go to jail for some -- slowly making assurances right. Occasionally -- somebody. -- don't. Really -- are required to -- for two dollars. You put something on an after the custom production you'd like him may be about five dollars you tickets in teaching and sell it for ten -- fifteen. They call -- a double that and so people quality keystone it's. Doubling your mind here are making twice the profit. I'm so far lot of young folks and that opportunity. And that alternative to become very yeah."

" This this is interesting because. The teacher was actually made in 1979. And it is from. The reach of shock. And it was. Warren to work by someone. Who had immigrated. From Mexico. And so -- hands. Yet a different type of story to tell. Of employment. And becoming. Americanized. So these shirts had some sort of story and I think that that's what's so. Nifty. He's an amazing go to these things about people's."

" Don't think you'll need it takes the streets like they're like an agreement and I am yeah. Beating them. --"

" Again the moment -- want to just exactly describe what's on this from districts but. We'll. Just pictures of him. Yes. -- what happened because. To my cousin he was killed on Monday night in west Oakland."

" When death and -- fashion mix the result does the rest in peace teacher I go by -- ago via -- artist name is not X come over here for the fifth call owner the -- is a T -- Berkeley where they hand paint custom teacher. Basically back here I'd do all that campaign and work in customer. So there were some -- here it's aluminum is the prospect from I wanna airbrushed. Reporter lawyer over here fanatics and because all the critical -- A lot of the business comes from rappers who wear T shirts with their names of the sort of self promotion. But most of the customers come in with a photo of someone who's passed away. Faith they want and a teacher with the words rest in peace in Israel now is cool you've."

" recently passed away and so memorial which is that. Distancing -- family friends. And am putting on the back -- that that should that there haven't made."

" My name is shining green Jasper and I am a film director and make nearing Morgan -- Jackson mortuary. And that can Oakland. The demographic and where they rest in peace shirts are. Individuals that are under the age of thirty. Usually they have died by murder or some type of violent crime most of the."

" Most of the people that we do -- we do these shirts for. The deceased are usually between 1518 that we do. We've -- search of kid's sick 1516 Olympic and got killer and you're live in -- and he was fifteen years old Macinnis shot him with fifteen minutes it's kind of kind of."

" Chris -- more that they're gonna key. Bulletins are programs. From the funeral service get lost their thrown away accidentally be put them back of a drawer. You forget about it but the teacher. Usually you put in the join you you remember that you have that you you'll want a rarity in. How much is this on -- Somethin' Beckham felt like this in the costs about eighty dollars and I would say we see Christian peace syrups. At least two to three times a month."

" 80% of our business is based on that that includes like the past we musicians that we -- Deficit -- factor or is that it's kind of kind of sad to --"

" Yes we do -- on every young person who is killed by a violent crime. And it is that a lot of people here. In Oakley and they are not against that are dying and I crying and fortunately we don't get all of those cases. Woodlands heavy duty it. They do end up making the T shirts for memorials."

" Finish would -- access how quickly analysis. Sitting time in trying -- we for the customer we."

" Yeah. --"

" But it's -- so presentation sprint and MP3. Present these for him is believe -- recipes recipe for eBay."

" Mom. Okay and a shared items addressing these freon. As for my own nephew is like and me in -- and tactile."

" This silly thing to do is -- as Tampa all right -- so we he'd he'd be around us every day -- on the Iraq matter whether it down. I mean really alliance."

" Play play announced -- You were okay."

" Got to follow up my friend Bobby right here. He told me about it and how like devastate I know is going on out a slight lead a study was joking with -- in and -- Unfortunately it was true we haven't seen him in mines and this is sad to see them this way you know. Triana. The film of these stories that I had so many memories today that they got an album definitely on this via -- have ushered me. Call for Obama by certain I'd definitely want. All had any ports -- anything it."

" It's."

" If everything goes right -- they're gonna wear. So when this Wendy's then I'll make benevolent or make it -- within -- you don't understand this you know. There is some say wait and see you know -- whenever there and cast was OpenId. And trying to -- him like these knives and picks you big peaks. You pick which she wanted to say -- and it was some like they doing that's saying enabling those that you haven't known. It insane and should do its ugliness and."

" President -- you don't feel like on sand and probably writing assembly -- to bring it out. There is upset with -- says it -- kinda glorify and it's an in depth knowledge I was young sailors some -- I don't dragon thing like campaign you America and it's got killed and send him some people -- Chesapeake they don't even know don't know and I don't do -- I -- what I -- this -- close close friend knows it's not -- get -- I -- in my heart -- America that. I'm gonna Martin's -- even my good tennis some trimming router in my -- big ransom amount on the circumstances."

" Seems that we gotta make these just love Tina sand is way too many in the ground. We at least get thirty in the air so make money they they thought you know at same time. Acorn you need he sees a shareholder base on an innocent and in -- relay this this will -- then yes mayor as we stand."

" He had."

" Yeah yeah yeah yeah in his --"

" Yeah have you -- his Collins today."

" In China following the Tiananmen square massacre. T shirts were banned from wearing one -- decadent and spirit could get you arrested. In England a teacher reading -- to Blair and one woman a trip to the local police station. And in Michigan and one of the photo of George Bush in the words international terrorist. And at a high school student in the principal's office and eventually federal court that all over the world future they're talking and sometimes getting the people wearing them -- I'll blog. But he should say what's on your mind whether it's terrorism. Favorite brand of tequila or at church -- you're putting on a teacher says something about who you are given favorite teacher at the US."

" I have the teachers that I can't bear to throw away and the for the life me I have no -- here why is it's really very corny it's T shirt from around. Seven. 76. And it hands raised median net in -- heart since it's really smaltz. I just cannot part -- it's just when this tiny things."

" And making contact. And Berkeley. And that is it we have -- 172. T shirts that -- for this edition of making contact. This show has been a special collaboration between national media project and the UC Berkeley graduate school of journalism. Thanks to student producer Jacob Benson who wrote and edited to show. Under the guidance of independent media producer and UC Berkeley -- lecture session. Special thanks to Eric Kate Arnold and lady tragic -- Dan turner run record and the Monday morning breakfast trip. For his CD copy of this program called the national media projects at 805295736. We can get our podcast a video project out of my. Lisa residents are executive director and do stuff or producer Kaplan associate producer. Alina about the needy and ivory green interns. In 1900 PM thanks for listening to make keep contact."