Powerful story about ‘life as Apu’s son’ goes viral

THE Simpsons’ attempt to address the Apu controversy backfired, causing even more outrage. The haters need to consider this.

ONE man’s powerful story of growing up with a father similar to Apu is going viral.

Indian-American Amar Shah has detailed his upbringing being raised by an immigrant father who ran a convenience store in rural America.

“Everybody has an opinion about Apu, but did they ever talk to someone who owned a convenience store or gas station or work in one or grow up in one? You know, like my dad and I?” he tweeted.

His thread follows The Simpsons’ recent attempt to address the racial controversy surrounding popular character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, an Indian immigrant who runs the local convenience store in the fictional town of Springfield.

The animated series, which first aired on December 17, 1989, has faced renewed criticism for its seemingly dismissive response to calls for the creators to address racist stereotypes and political correctness.

Simpsons character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has become the centre of racial backlash.

“As someone who spent many weekday afternoons after school in the freezing cooler of my dad’s Texaco reading or finishing homework while eating Jamaican beef patties and sipping fountain drinks, I have a few stories to tell of how hard my dad and mom worked to make a better life,” writes Shah.

Shah said his father was the youngest of four brothers to emigrate from a small town in India to New York in 1968.

He taught himself English, got his electrical engineering degree and worked for various engineering firms before eventually purchasing a Phillips 66 petrol station.

“I had friends whose parents were doctors or lawyers and peers at school would crack the inevitable Apu joke. Part of me embraced it knowing I had access to things they didn’t,” he writes.

“I also knew that running a store was hard and blue collar. My mom and dad mopping the floors with that Dumbledore beard of a mop. God, that ugly linoleum. Nothing would make a House Hunters couple squirm like a gas station floor. There was no task too small they wouldn’t do. You know why? Because my brother and I wouldn’t have to.”

Need I mention I will never be as cool as my parents. pic.twitter.com/F7ytLHuBLT

— Amar Shah (@amarshahism) April 10, 2018

He said life working in a petrol station “introduced him to America”, and allowed him to meet all sorts of people he never would have otherwise interacted with.

“My dad’s 67 now. He still wakes up at 5 in the morning, still loves WWE, still has that Harrison Ford flintiness which hides charm and kindness I know in no other person. He still goes to work with this same energy he did in his 30s.

“And tomorrow he’ll do the same thing.”

The post, which you can view in full here, has been shared thousands of times on Twitter.

Shah stressed he wasn’t criticising Hari Kondabolu, who originally raised the issue. He said he’s known the documentarian for many years, adding that he “did a wonderful thing bringing the discussion of Apu to the forefront”.

In response, Kondabolu thanked him for sharing his story, noting that he did interview a team of Indian small business owners for the documentary, but said the footage didn’t make the final cut.

A documentary about Apu by Hari Kondabolu sparked a debate over racial stereotypes in The Simpsons.

The latest episode of The Simpsons sparked renewed controversy after it appeared to dismiss the issues raised in the documentary.

In the episode titled No Good Read Goes Unpunished, the show producers slipped in a scene with Lisa and Marge Simpson, who is reading an updated version of a book called The Princess in the Garden that was edited to make it acceptable for 2018.

At one point, Lisa turns to the camera and says: “Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?”

Lisa then looks at a picture of Apu with the catchphrase “Don’t have a cow!” written on it.

“Some things will be dealt with at a later date,” Marge says.

“If at all,” Lisa responds.

#TheSimpsons completely toothless response to @harikondabolu #TheProblemWithApu about the racist character Apu:

"Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect... What can you do?" pic.twitter.com/Bj7qE2FXWN

— Soham (@soham_burger) April 9, 2018

Many social media users, including Kondabolu, voiced their disappointment over the reaction.

Wow. “Politically Incorrect?” That’s the takeaway from my movie & the discussion it sparked? Man, I really loved this show. This is sad. https://t.co/lYFH5LguEJ

— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018

Film critic William Mullally called the show’s response a “slap in the face”.

“The Simpsons’ response to The Problem with Apu: a callous and resentful shrug,” Mullally tweeted. “No this is the ultimate slap in the face. Delivering it through Lisa is their way of saying: ‘this *is* the reasoned, progressive and culturally sensitive perspective.’”

There was also criticism directed at the decision to use Lisa in the conversation, who is generally the show’s voice of social justice.

Some suggested the show could have talked about Apu in a full episode instead of just a brief mention.