CAAAV members posing with a life-size cutout of "Marky Mark" (Mark Wahlberg)

CAAAV members posing with a life-size cutout of "Marky Mark" (Mark Wahlberg)

This photograph depicts CAAAV members posing with a cardboard cutout of rapper Mark Wahlberg, or “Marky Mark,” modeling for Calvin Klein. When this photograph was taken in 1993, images of Wahlberg modeling underwear (and, famously, grabbing his crotch) had already become a major moment in American pop culture. All over New York City, images of Wahlberg depicted him as a charismatic bad boy.

CAAAV’s interest in Wahlberg, however, had to do with his persona off-camera. In 1988, a then 16-year-old Wahlberg attacked Vietnamese American Thanh Lam. Wahlberg approached Lam as he was unloading his car and called him a “Vietnam fucking shit.” Wahlberg proceeded to beat the middle-aged man over the head with a wooden club until it snapped in two. A few blocks away from this incident, Wahlberg then attacked Hoah Trinh, a man who was also Vietnamese American. Wahlberg propositioned Trinh for help, saying the police were coming and that he needed to hide. Once the police cruiser passed, Wahlberg punched Trinh in the eye, permanently blinding him. Later that night, police arrested Wahlberg who was charged with attempted murder. Two years earlier, Wahlberg and his friends had repeatedly terrorized Black children by chasing them with rocks while yelling racist epithets. For the 1988 incidents, Wahlberg served 45 days in jail.

Unwilling to let these attacks go overlooked by the media, CAAAV spearheaded a campaign to expose Wahlberg. In February 1993, as a central part of this campaign, CAAAV members stuck 1,500 neon orange bumper stickers all across New York City. The stickers announced in bold print, “Marky Mark: CONVICTED RACIST.” This campaign quickly gained national attention and eventually forced Wahlberg to agree to a statement of apology written mostly by CAAAV.

The apology, read by his manager at a press conference in Times Square on February 18th, not only admitted to personal guilt but also unequivocally stated, “Asian Pacific Americans, African Americans and all people have the right to live free of violence and harassment.” [1] Fliers, tombstones commemorating victims, and CAAAV’s opening words at the conference also helped to frame Wahlberg’s racist attacks within the larger context of anti-Asian violence. Among the campaign’s many victories, CAAAV succeeded in casting a national spotlight on racist violence and sending a message to public figures that racist acts against the Asian American community will be held accountable.

[1] CAAAV, “Caught with his Pants Down–Marky Mark Caves in to CAAAV.” CAAAV Voice newsletter, Spring 1993, 3.

Spring 1993

Caroline To

This post was completed as coursework for “Bitter Melon: Race, Foodways, and Urbanisms of Asian America” at New York University, taught by Minju Bae.

Edited by Serena Yang.

Copyright is held by CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities

Photograph

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