It seems to me this "controversy" has been about optics not any act of racism at least as far as the shirts themselves and their give away. Boogie (or anyone else that I have read for that matter) is not saying that the shirts were racist, the issue is how it could look to some for the fans to be wearing shirts with a monkey on them as we begin Black History Month, a time when most teams in the league are wearing shirts that are printed with the words "Black History" or similar concepts. The Warriors successfully honered the Lunar New Year with out using the image of the monkey, I would suspect for this very reason. My point is that this is not about anyone acting racist, it is about the ability to step back and ask the mature questions; "Could this message easily be seen in a way that is harmful?" and "Is this an image I still want to create?." Like the decision or not, the immature, hot head, cancer to the team very likely saved the owners and PR department from a considerable amount of flack had they gone forward with the giveaway, and ironically once again all the heat and blame can be heaped on DMC's considerable shoulders.
Those who use the term "Political Correctness" swing the term like a cudgel to defend their right to say what ever they want with no responsibility for the consequences of those words. I can not think of a soul who describes themselves as politically correct even people who believe that indeed their politics are in fact correct. No one is disputing anyone's right to freedom of speech, but what I would suggest is that everyone benefits when we think before we act or speak reflecting on the questions: Is this helpful?, is it kind? and is it necessary? I have long held that James Madison got the country off to a bumpy start with a constitution with a Bill of Rights but without an accompanying Bill of Responsibilities. In short I am free to wear my necktie with Paul Gauguin's "Native Women Bearing Fruit" (one of my favorite paintings). I am free to teach adults with the tie on and it might even be helpful in some courses, while offensive in others. Should I wear it when I visit my wife in her 1st Grade Classroom...