NOT ENOUGH: BOYCOTT THE NEW YORK POST
a NewsOne editorial
What do Chris Brown, Alex Rodriguez and the New York Post have in common? All three gave half-apologies this week for huge ethical and moral transgressions.
In the case of the New York Post, it is not enough to say, in effect, “We didn’t mean it the way you thought we meant it, and if you got us wrong, we’re sorry. And, by the way, we do not apologize to Al Sharpton, or anyone with the temerity to speak on your behalf.”
This is what a real apology might look like: “Americans of all colors, we sincerely apologize for the cartoon we ran. We were wrong to not consider the historically racist implications of the imagery we used, and racism — whether deliberate, implied or by mistake — is unacceptable. We completely understand the anger and outrage that many Americans feel, and we honor their right to speak out.”
We at NewsOne feel that as long as the New York Post holds the concerns, safety and well-being of African-Americans in contempt, it is important not to buy the New York Post, nor visit their website.
— The NewsOne Staff
PETITION DEMANDING APOLOGY:
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION!
We, the members of BlackPlanet.com, the world’s largest online community for African-Americans and people of African descent everywhere, are outraged at the recent publication of a racist cartoon in the pages of the New York Post, a daily newspaper owned and operated by one of the largest media corporations in the world, News Corporation.
The cartoon, created by Sean Delonas, depicts a dead chimpanzee, just shot dead by two white police officers who exclaim: “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”
According to the editors at the Post, this cartoon plays off the recent, sensationalized shooting of an actual chimpanzee in Connecticut.
But given that this cartoon is displayed one page after a picture of President Barack Obama; given the random connection made to Obama’s recently-signed economic stimulus plan; given the editorial animosity of the New York Post to Obama; and given the racist, bigoted history of the cartoonist, Mr. Delonas; it’s very easy to infer that the Post and the cartoonist are likening American’s first Black president to an ape.
The African-ape comparison is unconscionable, a centuries’ old cliche, a favorite of white supremacists everywhere. So, too, is the threat of police violence and brutality against African-Americans. So, for that matter, is the specter of assassination of an American president. And whether the editors and cartoonists meant to make these comparisons, or were merely comfortable riding the edge, we declare that this is inexcusable, intolerable conduct in a multicultural society.
The New York Post and Mr. Delonas are entitled to their “free speech.” We are also entitled to protest, with our voices, our bodies and our pocketbooks, if necessary.
The era for this kind of “humor” has passed. We stand alongside well-meaning Americans of all races and ethnicities to condemn this cynical, backward, racist cartoon, and its publisher.
We demand an apology from the News Corporation and the New York Post.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION!
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES IN THE CARTOON CONTROVERSY
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Here is Al Sharpton’s response to the NY Post Cartoon from the National Action Network
