Racist Cartoon in the Post-Racial Obama Era. Really?

Today the NY Post ran a cartoon that depicts two cops shooting a chimpanzee and referring to the now-signed stimulus package. Care to guess what the cartoonist is trying to say?

Here's a link to the offensive cartoon: http://www.nypost.com/delonas/delonas.htm. Needless to say it's caused outrage among several people including Al Sharpton. So much for the post-racist era. Hah! Like it really exists.

I say let the paper know how you feel. Email them at letters@nypost.com or call 212-930-8000, press 8 for the operator to be directed to the complaint line. Here's my letter to the paper.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am outraged that images like this are still being published. This is disrespectful and an insult to all of us who are working towards a just society. A direct correlation is being made between President Barack Obama and the chimp that was shot. Come on, didn’t we leave this back in the fifties with the racist Tarzan movies? I find it hard to believe that there was no in-house comment about the content of the cartoon or that no one saw a problem. After all, this cartoonist has a history of homophobic cartoons. He along with the Post has been called on it (http://www.queerty.com/?s=delonas). Most likely the Post will hide behind it’s disclaimer and the right to free speech, but to disregard the tasteless content & context is naïve, which I believe the staff at the Post is not.

I am sure you’re being flooded with emails and phone calls. I just hope you realize that’s just the tip of the iceberg as most folks will not respond, but they will talk & post about it. After all, this is the NY Post in NYC. A public apology is in order along with pulling the cartoon. To do otherwise would be tantamount to slapping your current readers, many of whom are working class people of color, in the face. You must take action now.

In peace,
Kim Ford
--
"When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power...the world will know peace" ~Jimi H