A racist cartoon?
On Wednesday, the same day that Attorney General Eric Holder asserted that "we are a nation of cowards" when it comes discussing race, The New York Post published its now-notorious chimp/stimulus cartoon. Like many editorial cartoonists, Sean Delonas lamely juxtaposed a political story (the stimulus program approved by Congress and signed by President Obama) and a non-political sensation (the mauling of a Connecticut woman by a chimpanzee, who was later shot to death by police). The cartoon showed two police officers, one with a smoking gun, looking at a chimp lying in a pool of blood. One cop says to another: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
The connection between the stimulus bill and the chimp attack was tenuous and tasteless, but was it racist? In my previous existence as an editorial page editor, I spiked a few cartoons because of likely offense to a segment of our readership. I'm not sure I would have killed this one, at least on those grounds. To me it was obvious that the monkey was supposed to represent the Washington establishment that produced the unwieldy legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Obama. If a weasel had been shot for attacking a woman, the cartoonist might have transformed him into a symbol of fiscal trickiness (instead of ape-like stupidity).
When I read that the cartoon was being denounced for representing Obama as a chimpanzee, my initial reaction was that the objection was preposterous. I was confirmed in that reaction when I heard that the Rev. Al Sharpton was calling for a boycott of the Post.
I raised the subject with other members of The Times editorial board and encountered a mixture of angeement and disagreement along with some insights that hadn't occurred to me. One colleague wrote: "Welcome to the brave new world . . . Criticisms of the president are going to be interpreted as racist attacks (or, in the case of this cartoon, criticisms of policies the president backs are going to be interpreted as racist attacks, if the cartoonist is boneheaded enough to involve a monkey). I’m not sure what the solution to this is, except that critics are going to have to be more careful with their words and images. Ultimately, it may not be a bad thing, because it will lead to an ongoing dialogue about race and symbology. But it’s going to be ugly. . ."
Another colleague, an African-American, pointed me to some truly offensive images of Obama as a monkey, including an ad for a T-shirt showing Obama thinking about a banana. Her argument -- and not just hers -- was that the cartoon had to be viewed in the context of an ugly tradition of likening blacks to apes. She had a point. My problem wasn't with the idea that a cartoonist shouldn't depict the first black president as a chimpanzee -- though that fate befell George W. Bush -- but that it was a ridiculous reach to regard the chimp in the cartoon as an Obama surrogate, let alone an allusion to a racist stereotype.
Which brings me back to Holder's speech. He's correct that lots of Americans (though not, fortunately, our editorial board) are shy about engaging in interracial discussions about racial attitudes. The hesitation obviously exists among both whites and blacks, but I'll mention an example of what Holder would call white cowardice.
Many white Americans believe that some denuciations of "racism" by figures like Al Sharpton are exaggerated and self-serving, but they won't say so. Sometimes such shyness stems from a laudable recognition that African-Americans have been subjected to so many real outrages that a false alarm here and there should be overlooked. But I fear that some of the silence reflects a belief that the sort of dialogue Holder was urging is impossible and that it's futile to try to convince African-Americans that one of their "leaders" is wrong. That strikes me as more racist than a silly cartoon.
The cartoon was a dumb as they come.
Obama did not write the stimulas bill. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid did write the bill and they resemble a couple of out of control apes more than anyone I know.
Posted by: Paul | February 21, 2009 at 08:15 PM
To compare Obama to a Chimp is an insult to the Chimp.
Posted by: Tucano Fulano | February 21, 2009 at 08:18 AM
Warning: this blogger has an agenda. We've been here before, and each time, the failure to express outrage by the mainstream has given carte blanche to such extremism as this blogger would endorse. Is it okay to joke about having cops assassinate the President, a black man being portrayed as an ape? If your answer is yes, your lack of shame and inability to maintain any standard for human decency would indicate you are either an evangelical "Christian," a Nazi, or at minimum, a bona fide scumbag. Your views only take hold because decent people don't take you seriously enough to call you what you are:
White trash.
It doesn't take courage to be a bigot, just a big mouth. It does take courage, however, to stand up to your own ethnic group and hold them to account for their moral shortcomings. Anyone--including General Holder--who wants to say I'm a coward because I have the testes to stand up to them doesn't know what bravery is at all.
The cartoon is racist. Decent people find it offensive. The rest of you need to take a long, hard look at your "christian" selves.
Posted by: Jack | February 20, 2009 at 02:24 PM
It is called the First Amendment, stupid.
Posted by: Michael D | February 20, 2009 at 02:11 PM
It's a stupid cartoon, with a barely coherent metaphor. I think the Post should fire their cartoonist mainly because he doesn't seem to be very funny, not because he failed to think through all possible implications for using a monkey as a symbol.
Posted by: tarbubble | February 20, 2009 at 08:21 AM
MONKEY CARTOON IS AN ATTEMPT TO SAY THAT THE STIMULAS PACKAGE WAS MADE UP BY A BUNCH OF IDIOTS. BUSH WAS CALLED A MONKEY AND HONEST ABE WAS TOO AND THERE NOT BLACK. RACE RELATIONS WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO FIX IF EVERY TIME PEOPLE THINK SOMETHING IS RASIST WHEN IT'S NOT. PEOPLE GET A LIFE. OH AND BY THE WAY EVER HEARD THE OLD SAYING "STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HURT ME".
Posted by: MIKE PRIMROSE | February 20, 2009 at 07:16 AM
Thankfully the ultra/overboard political correctness of the nation's big "mainstream" newspapers (this one, the New York Times etc) is dying along with the practically bankrupt industry in general. People are sick and tired of it thus the severe slash in circulation. How great for the American public.
Posted by: L. L Cantan | February 20, 2009 at 06:38 AM
ALL humans, no matter what "race", are more than 97% identical to chimpanzees.
In fact, we are so closely related to chimps that in every corner of the globe, people see other non-familiar looking humans as chimp-like, especially when dehumanizing them as individuals. For example, in Asia, whites are considered to look like apes because of the more pronounced body hair.
That said, the cartoon in question seems to lack any other message that ties the chimp shooting to the stimulus bill.
Could the author have intended the dead chimp to represent congress, Nancy Pelosi, Washington culture, or something else other than President Obama? I guess its possible. But what's the analogy? Where's the connection?
Absent any other connection, it becomes clear that the connection is the traditional "racial" "insult" of being dehumanized by comparison to a non-human primate.
Though I think it is ridiculous to be insulted by being called a monkey, I think its pretty clear that the cartoons author harbors racially prejudicial views that are clearly exposed by the cartoon.
I am thankful we live under the protection of the First Amendment where people are free to say what they want, and thereby expose themselves as the bigots they are. Rather than boycotting the NY Post, we should be grateful that they shine a bright light on the racist beliefs that still exist.
Posted by: Robert Constant | February 20, 2009 at 05:15 AM
"References that connect Obama to monkeys should not be tolerated at all."
What should we do to those who make such references---cut off their heads?
Posted by: John Brown | February 20, 2009 at 04:44 AM
At the same time, any denunciation of racism is always called by whites as an overreaction by sensitive blacks, even it if has merit. This is also white cowardice or denial that racism is still very prevalent.
Posted by: david | February 20, 2009 at 01:44 AM
There is tones of opinions out there about this cartoon. It is wrong on so many levels. People need to step back and look at the big picture, if the president was Hispanic and and the was a dead bean on the floor, wouldn't Hispanics have the right to be upset... Think about it people.
Much love, & be good
Posted by: Ilda | February 19, 2009 at 11:12 PM
The cartoon is just not funny. It doesn't speak to the essence of its subject. It's just so very lame to compare the stimulus bill to an out of control, violent animal, no matter how much the cartoonist (or you) believes the bill to be wrong.
Posted by: jimmyjones | February 19, 2009 at 11:12 PM
It appears that some of the mainstream media “mindset” has their hat tipped slightly Right. Stout is the taste of their ale, but when you glare longingly into your own abyss you can sometimes fall to your demise. Get on board my friend, the bus is leaving to the coast... any coast will do.
That said, should we actually condemn the chimp, or the chump who wrote the cartoon? Let’s say we condemn the latter. Then where do we stand? There are plenty who say we stand on the side of righteousness, and others say that we are perpetuating that aforementioned Machiavellian “mindset”. Maybe the answer is somewhere in his middle yellow spine. So if it takes guts to issue an apology I hope the apology doesn’t come with the compulsory caveats spewed by some equally racist cohorts. How about just an apology? That’ll do donkey, that’ll do.
Or maybe we can throw the chump into the cage of chimps at the zoo, just for laughs. But that’s just me.
Posted by: Ed B. | February 19, 2009 at 09:55 PM
Racism? There is definitely racism in this country; however, it is the blacks and Mexicans who are racist against whites, especially white males. I say let's make everything fair and proper. Pro sports-especially footballl and basketballl; only 13% of the players should be black and 17% of the players Mexican. Watch the P. C. people have a heart attack. It would be fair, but the minoroities don't want fair. They want MORE than their share. Get a job; get off welfare: get an education; get off drugs; recreate your "communities", set some decent standards,stay out of jail; and stop whining about what ypou don't have because you made poor choices from the day you were born. Finally, stop ridiculing those minorities who succeed and do well. Oreo is a cookie.
Posted by: Tim | February 19, 2009 at 09:39 PM
Can I have a redo? I need to change the next to last sentence that I just sent? --- Al Sharpton does indeed have issues. But is everyone who sees the cartoon as racist off-base - part of a liberal agenda - holding onto the past? I'm struck about how oblivious some are to the history of racist associations made between blacks and apes. I seem to remember a phrase that "those who forget history are destined to repeat it". Are some in denial or insensitive? Are some of us who didn't see the ape as congress being over sensitive? I think not. President Obama is the "face" of the stimulus package, after all. We all at some time or another have unintentionally said or done something that's hurt another person. So do we apologize, or do we lecture the offended person on being overly sensitive? It's that characteristic that determines how we view this story.
Posted by: Jim a WASP | February 19, 2009 at 09:17 PM
Al Sharpton does indeed have issues. But is everyone who sees the cartoon as racist off-base - part of a liberal agenda - holding onto the past? I'm struck about how oblivious some are to the history of racist associations made between blacks and apes. I seem to remember a phrase that "those who forget history are destined to repeat it". Are some in denial or insensitive? Are some of us who didn't see the ape as congress being over sensitive? I think not. President Obama is the "face" of the stimulus package, after all. We all at some time or another have unintentionally said or done something that's hurt another person. So do we apologize, or do we lecture the offended person on being insensitive? It's that characteristic that determines how we view this story.
Posted by: Jim a WASP | February 19, 2009 at 09:05 PM
The babies are offended again. When I saw the cartoon, I thought of the chimp attack recently in the paper, but soon realized it was a play on the old "monkey with a typewriter" joke. Eventually, he would write Shakespeare, they said. The cartoon evidently claims he would not.
I don't think we'll ever get past racism if folks keep claiming every thing said is offensive.
Posted by: Jon Smith | February 19, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Visit a racist website that does not censor its members, and I'm sure you're find that references to Obama as monkey abounds.
References that connect Obama to monkeys should not be tolerated at all. Sharpton is absolutely right about this. Anybody who knows the racist associations past and present of blacks with monkeys will know that this is totally unacceptable. Bot the editor-in-chief and the cartoonist should be fired.
Michael McGough, this post is a monument to your ignorance, and an embarrassment.
Posted by: CM | February 19, 2009 at 08:42 PM
I am one of the MOST conservative, flag-waving, Bible reading, free market, red-white-and blue Republicans that you can find! I think this cartoon is racist, tasteless, divisive, sick, dangerous. The editor can not claim ignorance of what people would THINK this means, regardless of what the newspaper claims it means. I'm NOT even glad that the liberals are now getting a taste of the sludge the media dishes out to Republicans every minute. This cartoon has gone too far.
Posted by: Sandra | February 19, 2009 at 08:31 PM
The New York Post owes President Obama an Apology
http://www.floodthelines.com/nypchimpcartoon/
Our President is No Chimp!
Posted by: FLMom | February 19, 2009 at 07:53 PM
A good editorial cartoonist simply would have written "CONGRESS" across the body of the chimp and avoided the whole problem. Sheesh.
Posted by: Richard Wright | February 19, 2009 at 04:19 PM
If that was in fact the message that was to be conveyed. Apparently it was not.
Posted by: Frank Stanford | February 19, 2009 at 06:57 PM
I can't believe this story actually has legs. It's common to describe a poorly written or poorly conceived document, especially one written by committee, as done by chimps or "monkeys at typewriters." The Post took an actual story about the shooting of a chimp, and put a funny spin on it, taking a shot at the stimulus package.
The "chimp" is no one in particular - it just represents how poorly and unintelligently crafted the stimulus bill is. Just a bunch of random hit-or-miss stuff that may or may not help the economy.
So much for the postracial "Age of Obama". We could elect 100 black senators and 435 black representatives and we'd still see racism peering behind every corner. It's about time we adjusted our perceptions to reality.
Posted by: Daniel C. | February 19, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Boycott Call:
All American citizens of good faith should immediately boycott all Rupert Murdoch News Corporation media properties, and all advertisers who do not immediately cancel all business with News Corp.
Any attempt to censor promotion and distribution of this boycott call on the internet should be considered on the side of this racist empire
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
PS. It's not the cartoonist, or even the Post that is really at the heart of this crap --- it's the Empire, people.
Nothing is any more representative of the arrogant, detached, guileful, murderous 'corporate financial Empire' that has totally taken over our country behind the facade of its 'Vichy' two-party sham of democracy and 'free market' fundamentalist tribal theology than Rupert and his shilling News Corp NYPost and FOX.
If you don't confront Empire, it won't moderate its behavior, and it certainly won't go away by asking NICELY, but rather like the last fascist/corporatist empire (the Nazi Empire) it will keep increasing and expanding its oppression, tyranny, and murder to support its insatiable (and ultimately unsustainable) need for 'economic power' --- over all but the elite. That’s simply what Economic Empire does --- and all empires are (always) an economic pathology first and foremost.
Posted by: Alan MacDonald | February 19, 2009 at 06:27 PM
Boycott Call:
All American citizens of good faith should immediately boycott all Rupert Murdoch News Corporation media properties, and all advertisers who do not immediately cancel all business with News Corp.
Any attempt to censor promotion and distribution of this boycott call on the internet should be considered on the side of this racist empire
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
PS. It's not the cartoonist, or even the Post that is really at the heart of this crap --- it's the Empire, people.
Nothing is any more representative of the arrogant, detached, guileful, murderous 'corporate financial Empire' that has totally taken over our country behind the facade of its 'Vichy' two-party sham of democracy and 'free market' fundamentalist tribal theology than Rupert and his shilling News Corp NYPost and FOX.
If you don't confront Empire, it won't moderate its behavior, and it certainly won't go away by asking NICELY, but rather like the last fascist/corporatist empire (the Nazi Empire) it will keep increasing and expanding its oppression, tyranny, and murder to support its insatiable (and ultimately unsustainable) need for 'economic power' --- over all but the elite. That’s simply what Economic Empire does --- and all empires are (always) an economic pathology first and foremost.
Posted by: Alan MacDonald | February 19, 2009 at 06:25 PM
I saw it along the lines of that old saying "If you put a hundred monkey in a room with typewriters, eventually one of them would come out writing Shakespeare"
A more likely scenario would be if you put a hundred Congress Monkeys in a room with typewriters one of them would come up with a better stimulus bill.
Posted by: AAAAANDRE | February 19, 2009 at 06:15 PM