Also - please use facts in your explanation. Do not use opinion, bias, or your interpretation. Let's keep this completely objective. 1) How is the picture racist? 2) How is the picture slanted against African-Americans? Let's have a real discussion.
If it offended people, does it matter what the artists intentions were? People offend other people all the time without intending it. That said, in this case ...I highly doubt the artist AND the proof readers AND the editors AND whoever else looked at it before it ran ...that this point was missed by all of them. If that's true, then rather than being insensitive, they are out of touch. If its a newspaper, is it better to be insensitive or out of touch? So pick one, they are dumb for running this because of the racial overtones or there is an element of racism. So end result. Racial overtones were OBVIOUSLY used. You pick the excuse that makes you feel better.
Here's a fact. I just did a google on "blacks racism monkey". (Take out all the Obama references which should be proof enough for you of the smoke/fire cliche but I doubt it). First hit: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=porch monkey It has been a LONG LONG LONG history for racists to call blacks a monkey. I'm assuming you aren't black and are a little of of touch ...so try this. Next white person you see, can them a monkey. Watch the confused or even humorous reaction. Now call the next black person you see a monkey. I'll bet the response will be a little different. Hint: I don't recommend you actually perform this experiment ...because you might get assulted.
Yes, it absolutely matters. Some people were not offended by it (myself for one). Thus, for those offended, why were they offended? What is offensive about it? Where is the link between the chimp and the president? What about the picture is African American? How does it racially offend anyone? In what way are apes offensive? Once again, I ask for unbiased facts in any answers you put forward. PC is eroding free speech quicker than the surf taking our beaches.
Excellent. Nice work. Now we can begin our discussion. Let's start at a point even more basic than you chose. Why did you search the words "blacks racism monkey"? Let's discover how you put all these things together using facts and an unbiased/slanted point of view. We can get into the effects of the "racial" content later on. Remember - use facts, not perception.
Here's a fact. Fact #1: Two seasons ago a fan yelled at Dikembe Mutumbo from the stands. He called him a "monkey". Fact #2: Deke nearly ran into the stands after the guy and had to be restrained as he was visibly offended. It is common knowledge the term "monkey" is derogatory. The ONLY word you could use that would be even more offensive would be the N word. It's common knowledge dude. Don't beleive me? again ...try it for yourself.
Fact #3: The fan was removed from the game, his season tickets were revoked and the guy was banned from attending any more NBA games. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2006/10/magic_nba_ban_f.html
Don’t know if this has been mentioned but a photo of President Obama signing the stimulus bill was also in the Post yesterday, one page before the “cartoon”. So a reader who turned the page went from seeing Obama sign the bill to the Chimp photo. Srsly????
You haven't answered a single thing I've asked. If we're going to discuss this, please try to answer what I ask. 1) Why do you assume I'm white? 2) What specifically about this cartoon is racial in any way? 3) Where in the cartoon is there an indication that something/someone is an African American? To come back with a fact that monkey can possibly be a derogatory term against African Americans hardly addresses anything. Considering this particular fact, I suppose cartoons like Curious George are even worse? I mean, there's a monkey constantly seeking knowledge and doing silly things along the way? Were Hans Augusto Rey and his wife using children's cartoons to make racial statements? How about King Kong? He fell in love with the white women and was killed by the man as a result of being enslaved and brought to this country against his will? Applying your logic (thus far) to these situations is potentially 10 times worse than the cartoon of this topic. Please, answer my questions. You also never said why you googled "blacks monkey racism". Kindly respond in fact, not opinion or bias. Thanks
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090220/ap_on_re_us/ny_post_cartoon NY Post apologizes — to some — over Obama cartoon By KAREN MATTHEWS, Associated Press Writer Karen Matthews, Associated Press Writer – 51 mins ago NEW YORK – The New York Post is apologizing for a cartoon that critics say links President Barack Obama to a raging chimpanzee shot dead by police in Connecticut. But the newspaper also says the image was exploited by its longtime antagonists. After two days of protests, the paper posted an editorial on its Web site Thursday saying the cartoon was meant to mock the federal economic stimulus bill, but "to those who were offended by the image, we apologize." The editorial also says some people who have long-standing differences with the paper saw the cartoon "as an opportunity for payback." The editorial calls them "opportunists" and says: "To them, no apology is due." The drawing was published Wednesday. It shows a dead chimp, with the caption reading: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
I brought this up to you already and you wouldn't address it. I agreed with you that the portrayals of W as a chimp were stupid, but not racist. Do you not acknowledge that the use of the term "monkey" when describing a black person has ever been used as a racist insult? Why did Deke freak out in Orlando? Why were t-shirts sold with Curious George reading "Obama '08?" Give me historical precedent that disproves use of "monkey" as a racial slur in any time in American history. Do that instead of posting George W. Bush cartoons.
You have changed my mind. I agree with you, sir. Every monkey portrayal is a racist attempt by cartoonists to undermine the black man. If you look closely at the Obama cartoon, it has Obama in microprint in the fur.
