Your Politics: Cartoon No Laughing Matter
February 22, 2009
Al Sharpton described it as, “troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys.”
State Senator Eric Adams called it a throwback to the days when black men were lynched.
Col Allan, editor-in-chief of the Post, responded, “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.”
Now that America has a Black president, he will be criticized and parodied just as those before him. With a Black man holding the highest office in the nation, some may think we have entered a post-racial era. How do we respond to criticisms of the president that may also smell of racism?
John Legend called for a boycott of the New York Post as a response to the cartoon.
The public has called, written, protested and rallied against the newspaper.
The White House has said it’s not even newsworthy.
So, what do you think about the cartoon? Where is the line, and what are our options if we feel that the media has crossed that line? Urban Talk would love to hear what the YPs think!
here is the rest of it.






That does not mean that cartoonists should get away with anything?
“Ordinarily it’s difficult for cartoonists to face libel because readers know that these drawings are for fun. For them to attract a suit it would be very, very extreme,” says Otiende Amollo, deputy secretary general of the East African Law Society and who acts for one of the top media.