The race card will still be played even when logic defies, yet, Rev. Al Sharpton and NY Governor David Paterson deserve a "right on" for raising issue with the controversial New York Post cartoon. The depiction, two white police officers standing over a chimp disabled by gunfire, is fried chicken-familiar to African-Americans but the caption seals the stereotypical deal: “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”
The tasteless reference is ‘someone’ other than U.S. President Barack Obama. Whites have equated African-American ancestry with the gorilla family for years. Just as in comedy, politics is abrasively targeted in cartoons, even those in journalistic context. Cartoonist Sean Delonas, reportedly, says the charges are “friggin ridiculous.” Undoubtedly, the thinking caps donned by the NYP powerheads were infant-sized. Incidentally, didn't we prove that a primate cannot be elected president?
When badge-sanctioned injustice continues to trample and reduce humans of color to animal stature, a post-racial society is akin to a pipe dream. Religious roots may predicate forgiveness but we will never forget the beat down of Rodney King or the recent gun downs of Oscar Grant, unarmed and handcuffed, courtesy of Oakland B.A.R.T. Police, and Bellaire,TX resident Robbie Tolan, plus others maimed and murdered by hands posturing white supremacy. Grant paid the ultimate price with his life, unfortunately.
The tasteless reference is ‘someone’ other than U.S. President Barack Obama. Whites have equated African-American ancestry with the gorilla family for years. Just as in comedy, politics is abrasively targeted in cartoons, even those in journalistic context. Cartoonist Sean Delonas, reportedly, says the charges are “friggin ridiculous.” Undoubtedly, the thinking caps donned by the NYP powerheads were infant-sized. Incidentally, didn't we prove that a primate cannot be elected president?
When badge-sanctioned injustice continues to trample and reduce humans of color to animal stature, a post-racial society is akin to a pipe dream. Religious roots may predicate forgiveness but we will never forget the beat down of Rodney King or the recent gun downs of Oscar Grant, unarmed and handcuffed, courtesy of Oakland B.A.R.T. Police, and Bellaire,TX resident Robbie Tolan, plus others maimed and murdered by hands posturing white supremacy. Grant paid the ultimate price with his life, unfortunately.
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