An Ape, My Conflict with My Cousin

I did not want to write this blog post. I am tired of these situations coming up and the same cycle playing itself out, but it is what it is and this time I will respond to get it off my chest.

After receiving an email from my cousin in Texas who got a viral email about the New York Post's (Feb. 18th--see below) chimpanzee cartoon that apparently connotes a racial slur against the President of the United States.

So here is how it happens:

Newspaper editor sits around and thinks about content for the February 18th issue. He has cartoonist Sean Delonas, always controversial, publish a cartoon featuring the chimp that was recently shot for attacking its owner's best friend. The caption makes a reference to a the primate writing the stimulus bill. My cousin sends our family including me an email.



My cousin's response to the email she got: Ok Family and Friends! See this cartoon for yourself and tell me if African-Americans should be offended by this or not! Given our history in this country, the Post has the AUDACITY to put this in their newspaper! They knew EXACTLY what they were doing!

This won't be a problem for most of us but, DO NOT BUY THE NEW YORK POST!!!

My response to my cousin and family: Folks, let's move on the path of transcending these types of things. If the artist had ill intent, let them be who they are and pray that someone does not harm them out of anger.

We have the opportunity to embark on the path of transcending pain and healing our communities. Let's not get caught up in the baiting of outside entities distracting us from the work we have to do, we must do, Yes we can do! Get enraged about the distractions and how we have to detach from them in order to move towards enriching and loving one another as our full-time mission.

My cousin (not agreeing in response): Hello. I respectfully disagree. What does it take to get respect in this country?!!!

Because we African-Americans have already came too far and have worked so hard for what LITTLE strides we have made....is ALL the more reason to stop this subtle bigotry in its tracks! If we overlook something like this, they ( the racist right) will just keep on doing these kinds of things!

To me by jumping on this now or "nipping this in the bud" this will help ALL of us heal properly and transcend the pain we as African-Americans only experience in this country. I would think its a travesty if we let these little, subtle racial time bombs get into the heads of our kids and the many millions of other "non African" Americans that come to this country every year and allowed to look down on us.

Its these kind of things that make our kids want "white" dolls instead of "black". Its these subtle statements that help perpetuate the negative stereotypes in our media and in our songs. Why else do we have 75% of African American men marrying outside their race? Do you think that its all for love?

My reinforcement: Still a distraction. We have been trying to "stop things in their tracks" since the beginning of the Civil Rights movement and it has only gotten us but so far.

In fact, when a movement against something like this arises, the media and a paper like this get more exposure and actually make more money. Think about Don Imus. I think he is a decent guy that said something stupid and racist. He lost one show then picked up another out of us being enraged making MUCH more money.

We are not focused enough on re-segregated inferior schools, issues with HIV, our health, growing OUR businesses, etc but we put time in to making this nothing newspaper a viral hit on-line? It doesn't add up for me. They are getting exactly the livid response from the black community that they intended and it is going to make them money and we are putting it in their pockets!

My overall conclusion about things like this: During the political campaign the New Yorker published a cover that was a caricature of the Presidential Candidate Barack Obama and Michelle Obama during what my friends call a "Terrorist Fist Bump."



People were outraged, I suspect Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson spoke for all of the black people as they are the ones that get on TV. Now fortunately we have heard the voices of people like Roland Martin (whom I differ in perspective with a little in this posting) who I think are more inclusive in their perspective. Nonetheless, I think there is too much time spent on the ignorance and unconsciously or consciously racist remarks that people make.

Should things be pointed out as to the connotation and impact? At times, yes, other times, no. The nature of many media vehicles attention, coverage, etc. at all cost. The NYPost can have commentary about their cartoon for several more weeks to come. It will be talked about on television news casts, the artist will be invited to speak on shows and interviewed, etc. It is a classic publicity coup that newspapers and many media outlets live for. So, for this reason I say no.

I simply don't think it should get much attention. I understand that if this happened and had a negative connotation for the Jewish community (as in a rat character as Roland Martin described) there would be outrage. I agree. I also think that there would be dollars pulled from advertisers because so many business are owned or operated by people from the Jewish community and they are organized to take that stand. Simply not purchasing the Post does very little and a viral email forwarded to potentially hundreds of thousands does not hurt the Post either--it boosts sales.

We have to acknowledge these racial dynamics, but if we want to begin to embark on the road to change, hold people accountable without promoting their negative actions. So, yes to pointing it out, just not too much.

If we want to come down on vehicles like the NYPost, and request that they contribute to various non-profits working in struggling communities with depressed schools and families. Make them go beyond a defensive stance and engage in a back and forth blaming of leading blacks for their so-called opportunism. Make them say, "we did not intend for this to be offensive". Even if they don't mean it, call for them to back it up and contribute to something that combats the perception if they are sincere. Will they do it, maybe not, but it will give the public insight into what they are all about in earnest and then the outcomes will play themselves out over time.

Don't give them more fuel that helps add to their coffers. There is no progression in that approach and it has not helped race relations and it definitely is not what the diversity conversation should create. In fact, it is the cycle of perpetual sameness that we have seen over and over the more we try to make the "bad people" fess up so that the "good people" can be satisfied that their justice has been served.

I doubt the President cares or has time to care and in fact, he probably shook his head and laughed it off. The stimulus bill is passed and he is off to a great start!

Make it a great day!