Does NY Times Gift Guide Play Into Racial Stereotypes?

This is an interesting article penned by By Lizz Carroll on Dec 14, 2009 on the http://diversityinc.com website. This would not be the first time the New York Times has been accused of racist behavior. I would suggest that you take a look at the gift guide and make a determination based on your own cultural sensitivities.

Also read: consumer, stereotypes, multicultural missteps, holidays
Did The New York Times play into negative racial stereotypes with its holiday gift guide? With terms such as "the Mocha Manual" and a product line aimed at people who have "problem hair," the Times seems to have gone over the line. But the newspaper denies it, saying the guide is "relevant and appealing."
Bloggers, however, are definitely offended by the guide. NYTPicker.com, a blog that is dedicated to analyzing The New York Times, called the guide's special section "Of Color | Stylish Gifts" racist and criticized the newspaper for its selection of gifts that not only pointedly suggest products aimed to specific racial/ethnic groups but are also based on skin color.
A new addition this year, the section was intended to cater to its readers who are potentially looking for "gifts created for and by people of color," according to The New York Times. Groups included were Black, Latino, East Asian and Asian Indian.
Among the collection of gift suggestions were:

• "The Mocha Manual to Military Life: A Savvy Guide for Wives, Girlfriends and Female Service Members," a guidebook for Black relatives or girlfriends of military personnel

• "Hair Rules," a product line for those with "problem hair"

• "Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women"

• "Ash Kumar's Bollywood Henna Kit," a DIY makeup kit

• "A Wise Latina" T-shirt

• "Baby Jamz," "an interactive hip-hop and rhythm-based toy line."

The New York Times stands by its guide, though. In response to the negative reactions, its spokesperson Diane McNulty told Yahoo:
"Our online gift guides are intended to offer holiday gift ideas for a wide variety of audiences and interests, with Times writers and editors making smart, informed choices that might appeal to those different audiences. The 'Of Color' guide, in the Style & Travel category, is in keeping with that philosophy, and with the efforts of a diverse Times staff to directly address minority readers with our content. Of course, we expect our readers to use the guides however they choose, and we hope they'll find interesting ideas in many different categories. But we'll continue our effort to provide content that's relevant and appealing."
But bloggers don't agree with the Times' choices. The Hinterland Gazette's blog, BlackPoliticalThought, said the guide "could be considered pushing the limits on being offensive. The New York Times has been politically correct on a lot of things, but this seems to be the exception."
Another blog on Mediaite.com called it "badly, terribly thought out, bordering on offensive" and "off-puttingly weird." They expressed shock at the fact that it made it through the editing process.
Gawker.com, however, gave the list harsher criticism: "It's a celebration of the racist assumption that 'people of color' are defined by their colors—but white people get to self-define with their interests, hobbies, and desire for 'Home and Decorating Gifts for $25 and Under.'" They add that "these gifts are mostly backhanded insults, and not just to one's race."
A blog on PajamasMedia was equally critical, calling the assortment of gifts "like taking a trip through an international bazaar—or getting in a time machine and traveling back to the good old days when everyone knew their place and Macy's didn't feature Kwanzaa displays."