Open Thread

When it was first brought up in this thread, I had to google the ‘toon to see what was being talked about. Before reading the caption, I thought it would be a commentary on the recent chimp attack on that woman. After reading the caption, I thought it was a dis to Congress. Then I started reading the articles from several other publications calling the ‘toon racist, offensive, etc. It was only then that I made the connection to the possible racist overtones. As a black woman, I may have been expected to immediately see the offensive side of this, but I didn’t. Maybe it’s because of my relatively young age (not saying that I don’t know my history or the fact that blacks are/were often compared to primates – I mean that I as a younger woman have experienced racism but certainly not to a degree comparable to older generations of black americans.)

From my experience with the white people I know, there is an intense fear of being branded a racist and therefore follows the fear of discussing race. I think this or any online community is different because there is a degree of anonymity here as opposed to face to face conversations. Many have said to me that they just don’t know what they can and cannot say without being slapped with the racist label. We live in a world where so many people are so offended by such a variety of things that it is, at times, nearly impossible to know who if anyone we are offending. This is not to say that people should not know better in regards to obvious things, ie. the rantings of PropJoe and WineLover.

After reading this discussion and others online, I do think the Post possibly should have been more mindful of what it was putting out there. But, as others of you have stated, since when does the Post think or care about anything beyond sales?

There’s my $.02. Throw it in the cup with the rest of the change.

dittoburg, I’m inclined to agree with you in general, altho ENY is very eloquent and also correct here.

But as a white guy who grew up in Harlem before it was generally acceptable for my skinfolks to live there, and also as someone who has and does hire ex-offenders, you’re not making a fine enuf distinction.

Generally, it is white people, especially white liberals, who will be the first to throw the R word around. People of color are more appreciative of an honest discussion between opposites provided it is honest and respectful and both parties equally listen; i.e., no one is talking down.

If you’re out there on the bleeding edge you’ll be called a racist plenty of times. You have to ask yourself who’s calling you that, why, and most importantly, why does it bother you? Personally, I know who I am and what I believe and if some guy from Idaho calls me one I really don’t let it get to me.

“How many people now reading this have their suspicions about me because I pointed out above that comparing politicans to apes has been done before, including our recent president, and then interpreting that as “in defense” of racism.”

Until we can confront and ultimately surmount these problems, many white people going to have to live with the possibility of being labeled “racist” by some when addressing sensitive matters like this cartoon. That is just one of the unfortunate legacies of slavery, and not the most onerous, either. White folks are going to have to get a bit tougher, and maybe sometimes risk being called “racists” if they want to ask questions and understand why black people would find such a cartoon offensive. Or, they can simply remain “afraid,” avoid the conversations and learn nothing. If you think about it, dittoburg, I didn’t instantly label you as a “defender of racism” because you pointed out above that politican-ape comparisons are nothing new. Will every black person act as I did? I wouldn’t imagine so. But some would. It’s called learning about each other, and that does involve some risk.

Cobblers – I think BRG means once the idea has been planted its difficult to see it any other way, any other way seems less genuine somehow.