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Wednesday, February 18, 2009 | 4:24pm
UPDATED: NY Post Cartoonist: Obama = Dead Monkey?
Racism? or a parody of a violent Connecticut chimp and Washington’s economic plan?
A cartoon likening the author of the stimulus bill, , with a rabid chimpanzee graced the pages of the New York Post on Wednesday.
So I’ve had some time to think over this political cartoon and what exactly its saying meaning, inferring or who is it trying to agitate…I hope you have also. The drawing is from famed cartoonist Sean Delonas. It is clear that the cartoon is addressing two different issues, the stimulus and the woman in Standford, CT who was attacked.
It is clear that the artist intended for the readers of the New York Post to draw the conclusion that the dead primate represents President Barack Obama. Although I don’t regularly check for Delonas I do know his cartoons are intended and are successful in insighting controversy while not overstepping the boundary.
The cartoon definately leaves a lot of room for interpretation. The pro-black cynic will dismiss the cartoon as completely racist. If you draw the conclusion that Monkey = Obama then its an obvious cause for pitchforks and riot. A more tame and less realistic interpretation is that the cartoon is stating that only a monkey could have written such a poorly thought-out stimulus bill. The problem with the later is the introduction of violence, while this is a free country the image of a monkey who died at the hands of the white man in authority draws back to lynchings in the south etc, etc.
Rev. Al “Captain African-America” Sharpton released as statement about the cartoon and as you might predict, he viewed it as racist.
“The cartoon in today’s New York Post is troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys. One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual reference to this when in the cartoon they have police saying after shooting a chimpanzee that “Now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill.”“Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama (the first African American president) and has become synonymous with him it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?”
In response Col Allan, editor-in-chief of the Post fired back.
“The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington’s efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist.”
One of my New Years Obama resolutions is that I’m going to start thinking more before I react before I blog. I’ve realized that after more analysis of a situation or the acquisition of more facts that we often have a much different outlook than our original reaction would suggest.
Something told me there was more than meets the eye with this cartoon. It was bait for African Americans to see how much we’ve learned from our ascension since Obama’s election. Have we stopped playing the poor victim always assuming that “the man” is out for our downfall. This cartoon was looking to smoke out the weak minded, sharped tongued angry black man looking for a cause to protest against. Captain African America bit the bait and its clear that the Post had that canned response waiting for him.
I for one believe we don’t need to respond to such silliness. We need to get out of the mindset of thinking about the racist undertones of every little subliminal jab. Obama proved we have a bigger agenda and biting the bait is just a distraction from us achieving those goals. Racist yes…do I care…no.
FILED IN Editorials, News
Sounds like a jab to me as well!
You know it’s a shame when I see a cartoon like this and know it is from the NY Post and dismiss it without feeling. The people over there don’t seem to understand the line that they cross. Sure, they consider this satire but are they also thinking about the other thoughts that come to the mind of their audience? Do they even care?
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This can be looked at in a number of ways. Yes, it is mixing the stimulus package news along with that monkey from CT that was doped up on Xanax(or whatever the drug was). But given the political climate we are dealing with these days this appears to be something other than pure satire. The cartoonist who drew this is known for sparking debate about his work… So this isn’t much a surprise.
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As you can see I have no real opinion. I already know not to take dude seriously. Did we really expect the minds of the people to change because of the color of the president is different than what the world is used to?
i dnt recall any ‘cartoons’ of GWB gettin killed. NONE. is this basically a death threat to our new president???!
I’m with everybody above! But you know I have to share my 2 cents at my blog…so click on my name to find out more.
utterly ridiculous
This seems to me like a case of “if something I said could have been taken in a way that could offend somebody– I meant it the other way”
Anyone who follows Delonas’ cartoons knows that he leans towards the controvercial–I still think it’s racist– they didn’t start doing bush bashing until way later in his presidency. I mean Obama has only been in office a little over a month– they could at least have gave him a few months … But I’m not really shocked– a black man winning the highest office in this country doesn’t automatically mean that the bigots of America are going to wave their white flags and surrender… And Al Sharpton– well just because Obama won doesn’t mean he will stop being a race-card throwing publicity hog…
EXACTLY! Great points here Candy.
Bottom line is the cartoon has racist undertones. Its subtle yes but I’ve said it many times before the subtle and unspoken are far more offensive than the blatant and outspoken.
I think Juan hit the nail on the head with this one. Racism is going to hit an all time high. We are better off ignoring it. Often times you lose just by letting people get a rise out of you. Plus, as soon as Sharpton gets involved everything is a wash anyway.
bring on the fatbax this is depressing.
Here is the site to petition against the NY Post…http://www.colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=1750-207076.
Dont let this slip by…Change means you cannot get away with the same old racism!
Signing a petition is one of the steps that need to be taken. I’m sorry but ignoring this pisses me off just a little more. There needs to be action taken. Hit them in their pockets boycott the paper! It’s no secret that minorites are the majority of the NY Post’s readers these days and it is outrageous for them to put out a cartoon which at first glance without any words, speaks racist volumes. I didn’t need the onset of people saying they were offended and seeing it posted on numerous websites to come to the conclusion that this was not a parody. And you know what, I get rather sick and tired of people saying negative things about Al Sharpton when he has the balls enough to say what he thinks and how he feels. The way he approaches situations could be a lot better and and better thought out but his timing is always perfect. And I don’t think it’s about taking the bait I think it’s more along the lines of them doing it and not getting away with it. I never see the Jewish community getting offended for anyting and if they were they retract it immediately because the Jews do not hesitate to let them know when they are discontent. Everyone has a voice, instead of approaching it angry it would be best if we used our voices with grace and class.
Yeah, Juan and Mike. You guys need some visuals to help change your opinion. Because you all are sounding mighty Republican right now.
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Think about if he had drawn a comic about Oscar Grant or Sean Bell. Sure, most folks wouldn’t get the joke but that’s the problem. JOKES are supposed to be FUNNY, not offensive. And the cartoonist/buffoon-ist will always be remembered for being corny, than thought provoking. Just think about it because I’m really disappointed in both of you right now. But then again, you two don’t look black so why should you care?
Woah there Zack! Let’s not go bashing the lighteys– Obama isn’t even fully “black” if u think about it. I personally resent that
LOL
Juan and I never agree, but this is not a racist cartoon. If you look hard enough at something, you’ll see what you want to. Stimulus is a joke, and that’s what I got from the cartoon.
Juan and I never agree either, but I thought he’d be with me on this one. It’s interesting how a political cartoonist professes to know anything about the economy. That’s not his job. If that were the case, then he’d be assigned to a different department. I think he made a fool out of himself because he doesn’t know what the stimulus plan means either. You have folks calling it socialism, when there is NO COLLECTIVE OWNERSHIP featured anywhere in the plan. It’s not about taxation without representation, when you have representation without obligation. Our politicians have let us down by watching the economy fall by the wayside. So, unless you all are MBA students like myself, I’d advise you to research your opinions about the economy before you try to join in with racist, uneducated rhetoric. (No offense Deanna)
At the end of the day he got you guys talking about him and his paper and his cartoon. Face it he’s not going to get reprimanded. I’m not saying ignore racism. I’m the soapbox king but for those who saw the original post (ie: Urban Thought) know that I took a while to think about this before commenting.
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We can’t fight every battle we need to pick and chose them wisely. The reason why Captain African America’s credibility is shot is because he’s always crying foul. He’s not selective. Not everything is a Sean Bell. Look at Jena 6. We rush into the picket lines without justification. Thanks Deanna for backing me up.
It’s like this. If we ignore it and treat it like the garbage it is, then there will prob be less of it put out there. I DO believe that these closet racists who like to think of themselves as “politically witty”, get a kick out of seeing us get all upset and angry just like they expect. If they feel like they are getting ignored, then they will just spread the jokes amongst themselves. But I do think that The Post has a responsibility to hold back from printing things that are obviously going to spark negative feelings and offense to a large group people—especially the ones who are their CORE readers and buyers. At least have the decency to respect the feelings of the same people who are keeping your publication in business. If this was a paper printed and distributed in an all-white, all-republican, suburban town in wayouthereville, then fine! Have fun in ur ignorant ass paper. But NYC? Come on! They shouldn’t have printed it.
I agree with you a lot but I don’t think the Post has a responsibility to edit itself…rather the opposite. I think the problem with the post is they do TOO MUCH editing of the news. Every week they’re doctoring photos in Photoshop.
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The issue here is different. I think its a balance. You’re completely right…we get stuck in the mud and bogged down with these meaningless fights. We’ve got bigger fish to fry in my opinion like how we’re going to make this cockamamie Stimulus pack work!
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No offense taken,Zack. But if that were the case, why not put someone with economic experience in office. No, i do not have an economic background, just one in which when you look at what causes inflation, which is money that is not worth anything, why go print more.No matter how you justify it, still doesn’t make any sense. As far as the cartoon, it still isn’t racist, nor are the people who wrote it. In all actuality, it isn’t even about the cartoon, it is because you think the people who find stimulus a joke racist.
ummmmmm…great point. I think that’s the big issue here. We’ve gotta be careful with over defending Obama or more broadly speaking, Washington. They’re still politicians and we need to hold them accountable. Obama’s going to do some things we don’t agree with but we can’t give him or others a pass because of who HE is.
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Secondly just because a person is conservative, or a stimulus pack hater or a republican, or a white dude, doesn’t make them racist or their intentions any less becoming. This issue isn’t so cut and dry as you make it. ITS DEBATABLE! That’s why we’re commenting on it now.
Please tell me Al Sharpton got something better to do besided bring up racism at the drop off a hat. It gets real old real quick.
Its like crying wolf. That’s why even when he’s right no one believes him.
Hello people!!! Can’t you see that this cartoon was created for the mere purpose of distracting us as a people and supporters of our comander and cheif??? All I see is poor judgement and character that is shown to me by the artist himself and in no way identify myself or anyone else of color in that manner.
All of this calamity and outrage just feeds into what the artist and the New York Post had intended it for, energy, energy and divided eyes. Yeah the cartoon was racist I agree, but lets focus on what really matters in this day and time like, I don’t know, the restoration of our country, and how Obama’s going to lead us there with the grace and mercy of God!!!!
When will we as a people no longer identify ourselves with metaphorical attacks, slanders, and repressed by “the man” complexes??? It’s those ways of thinking that will always keep us down. This whole thing was just silly and very immature on the artist’s behalf, and the only monkey I see is him!!!!
Thank you…that’s all I’ve been saying. We gotta transcend this nonsense.
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