The NY Post defends running racist cartoon by Sean Delonas
Civil rights leaders and a multitude of others have come forth speaking out against the cartoon by artist Sean Delonas which was run in the New York Post on February 18, 2009. The cartoon has been called offensive, racist and insensitive.
Mr. Delonas however has stated that these accusations are ridiculous and that the cartoon is about the economic stimulus bill and in no way is indicating that President Barack Obama should be shot. The editor-in-chief of the New York Post, Col Allan had this to say,”The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event.”
However that explanation is not acceptable to those (myself included) who have taken offense to the cartoon which shows two white police officers standing over a dead chimpanzee that that have just shot and killed. The caption states “They will have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.’
How the New York Post or the cartoon artist can rebut the fact that the cartoon is offensive and has racist undertones is beyond belief. Even with The New York Post adding that the cartoon also plays wit to the woman attacked by a chimpanzee in Connecticut it still does not satisfy those who are not willing to accept any excuses for the cartoon’s insensitivity or the New York Post bad judgment call. First let’s examine the facts:
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President Barack Obama wrote the stimulus bill mentioned in the cartoon caption.
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President Barack Obama is of African descent.
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Throughout history and to present time, monkeys, chimpanzees and other primates of the ape family have been used to downgrade and dehumanize the African American race.
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The cartoon shows a dead chimp, killed by two white officers who are stating that someone else will have to write the next stimulus bill.
There is no way to deny that the cartoon is blatantly racist. I won’t even downplay it by saying it has racial undertones, no it is blatantly racist and in my opinion the New York Post needs to make a public apology to everyone who may have been offended by the cartoon’s offensive artistry and caption. It showed bad judgment on part of The New York Post when the cartoon was okayed to be placed as part of the newspaper’s printing.
Reverend Al Sharpton, Marc Morial (National Urban League President), Barbara Ciara (President of the National Association of Black Journalists) and others are speaking out and demanding that the New York Post clarify what point the cartoon actually makes since the post has denied that it has any racial inferences.
Another note: This is not the first time artist Sean Delonas has had his work called offensive or insensitive. He is the same artist who has been ridiculed for his cartoons on gay marriage licenses and the ex-wife of Paul McCartney who has one leg. Click here to read more about Delonas and his controversial cartoons.
Click here to view CNN Panelists discussing the cartoon.
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If you would like to join the Call 2 Action against the cartoon run by the New York Post here is more information on how you can call, send a letter or email to the New York Post. Also Rev. Al Sharpton will be leading a demonstration today, Feb 19, 2009 at noon if you are in the New York area. Please remember that in all things there must be order. If you choose to email or call The New York Post please be respectful.
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Kaleidoscope Lyfe 
I think there’s EVERY reason to say that the cartoon WASN’T racist.
First of all, Nancy Pelosi apparently wrote the stimulus bill. Secondly, the only president to be repeatedly (and accurately) compared to a chimp was President Bush.
I think the fuss Al Sharpton stirred up about this cartoon does more to perpetuate racism than quell it. President Bush spent eight years being caricatured as a monkey. If we TRULY lived in a non-racist society, the same could be done to Obama without causing offense. But we don’t. We still live in a segregated society in which the way you treat one set of people is unacceptable when used against another set of people.
I’m just reading Dreams of my Father and it’s an incredible education as to how divided this nation is and how the black community is discriminated against and mistreated by the system.
However, this cartoon WASN’T a racist statement. The cartoonists took a RECENT, TOPICAL news story (the rampaging chimp) and tied it into another RECENT, TOPICAL news story (the stimulus bill) and put a political slant on it (the Post is conservative, isn’t it?)
I don’t imagine race even crossed the minds of the cartoonists for a second.
I guess I can understand how it was a fine line to walk (you’re right, monkeys have been used to insult African people as recently as half a century ago) but the fact that Al Sharpton made such a fuss out of it sends a message contradictory to what he should be preaching.
His message? Yes, one set of people should be treated differently to another.
And that’s not right.
Then again, Al Sharpton’s become a joke. He only manages to stay in the public eye by milking manufactured scandals like this.
Anyway. Sorry for the rant, but I think it was worth putting a different perspective out there. I can see how black people might have found this an uncomfortable cartoon, but I think you have to examine the intentions of the people who drew it and I don’t imagine for a SECOND they were trying to be racist.
If it was offensive, it was inadvertently so.
Delonis and Allan’s excuse are weak because there was no relevant reason to use a primate in relation to the Stimilus Bill other than racism. It was one of those “good old boy ” codes to get a racial joke out. They were just called on it! Rupert Murdoch, finally apologizes after he sees the negative ripple effect it has had even at the Post. The best way to deal with this is not to buy the NY Post! Visit attackdawg.com
I think Sean Delonas is a asshole of the first order, he knew exactly what he was doing. In fact, he and those assclowns at Newscorp acted in concert in this blatantly racist cartoon. I am struck with incredulity at the lame excuses that has been brought up to explain this cartoon.