N.Y. Post apologizes for chimpanzee cartoon

[Sunflare]

http://www.reuters.com/article/domes...090220?sp=true

N.Y. Post apologizes for chimpanzee cartoon
Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:42pm EST
By Edith Honan


A protester holds a New York Post with a controversial chimpanzee cartoon during a march outside the News Corp. headquarters in New York February 19, 2009.


Rev. Al Sharpton (C) marches with protesters outside the News Corp. headquarters in New York February 19, 2009.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Post apologized on Thursday to those offended by an editorial cartoon that critics said was racist because it likened President Barack Obama to a chimpanzee.

The newspaper acknowledged that the cartoon published on Wednesday had drawn controversy because African-Americans and others saw it as a depiction of Obama.

"This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize," the paper said in an editorial on its website headlined "That Cartoon."

"It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill. Period," the paper said.

The cartoon of a policeman shooting an ape played on the real shooting of a pet chimpanzee in Connecticut this week. A police officer in the cartoon says, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."

The cartoon ran a day after Obama signed into law the $787 billion economic stimulus that he had strongly promoted. Critics interpreted the cartoon's dead chimp as a reference to Obama, who became the first black president of the United States on January 20.

Demonstrators led by civil rights activist Al Sharpton chanted "End racism now!" outside the skyscraper headquarters of the newspaper's parent company in midtown Manhattan on Thursday. They called for the jailing of Rupert Murdoch, whose international media conglomerate News Corp owns the Post.

The newspaper initially defended the cartoon as a parody of Washington politics, but Sharpton said it exploited a potent image in the history of racism toward blacks.

"I guess they thought we were chimpanzees," Sharpton said. "They will find out we are lions."

Sharpton said in a statement on Thursday night that groups protesting the cartoon would go ahead with a previously scheduled rally outside the Post on Friday afternoon and decide on a response to the Post editorial.

He added that "though we think it is the right thing for them to apologize to those they offended, they seem to want to blame the offense on those of whom raised the issue, rather than take responsibility for what they did."

The Post said it was not apologizing to all of its critics.

"There are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past -- and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback. To them, no apology is due," the editorial said.

"Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon -- even as the opportunists seek to make it something else," it said.

Critics said the racist message was clear.

"You would have to be in a time warp or in a whole other world not to know what that means," said demonstrator Charles Ashley, 25, a model who did not believe the cartoon was an innocent political joke.

Others said it made light of assassinating Obama, a possibility they said that worries many Americans.

"Just the fact that they put a monkey with gunshot wounds in his chest, it gives the idea of an assassination," said Peter Aviles, 48, a building superintendent.

Police in Stamford, Connecticut, shot and killed a 200-pound (90-kg) chimpanzee on Monday after the pet nearly killed its owner's friend and attacked a police car. The chimp, named Travis, had once starred in television commercials and was taking medication for Lyme disease.

(Additional reporting by JoAnne Allen in Washington; Editing by Anthony Boadle)

Pic of editorial cartoon published in the NY Post:

[Arex]

Given Obama's heavy involvement with the stimulus bill, signed the day previously, I'm not sure how anyone could think other people are reading too much into the cartoon if they find it racially offensive. It may not have been the author's intent, but even if not, it's pretty damn easy to misinterpret the cartoon given its context. So either the author is racist or incredibly incredibly inept.

[VV o n g B a]

i just recently finished watching the slam dunk series on crunchyroll. i keep wondering if ppl were offended by akagi's depiction.

[Sunflare]

Originally Posted by Arex

Given Obama's heavy involvement with the stimulus bill, signed the day previously, I'm not sure how anyone could think other people are reading too much into the cartoon if they find it racially offensive. It may not have been the author's intent, but even if not, it's pretty damn easy to misinterpret the cartoon given its context. So either the author is racist or incredibly incredibly inept.

Well to start the racial tension between ethnic groups here in New York is extremely high to begin with. I 'll mention it again : A mod brought out the excellent point in another discussion that NYC is an extremely hyper-competitive society in nature. Race of course therefore is intertwined with the the status quo that exists in the metro New York area. (May I add - racial tension between different non - white ethnic groups)

Many blacks were persecuted since the outcome of the American Civil War as we all know already, when the blacks were emancipated - however - They still did not have equal rights, obviously. These blacks who migrated to cities like NYC aside from other locations like Boston, Philadelphia or Chicago from the plantations down south were subject to racism to a degree that is unspeakable, IMHO. Some incidents are documented in publications collecting dust in bookstores and archived in libraries . . . but some are still untold stories of crimes related to racial bias. NYC and such cities has a history that is ugly when it comes to race relations. This is why you are seeing the reaction of outrage to this severe degree by the Afro-American community to this controversy. Understanding that Rev. Al Sharpton can be a bit over - sensitive at times in this case, yes true, he should pursue this problem with the press. The NY Post *does* have a slanted way of reporting from a neo-conservative WASP point of view. And hey, even Michelle Malkin post editorials in this newspaper regularly which I find skewed to say the least. That literally how moronic this newspaper is; it's tabloid like approach to journalism.

However the point that you are trying to make, in my own words: Basically the point that the artist who created this cartoon must have his head up his ass when it comes to politics and race relations - is a definite possibility. But that chance is minimal. Believe me I live here in the Big Apple. I experience the hate every day.

So therefore in my opinion the message was intentionally created as such to imply a message on race through a shot to death chimpanzee in this cartoon along with the comment on the stimulus package. It's too obvious.

[BillBlythe]

it's probably an accident. politicians are often caricatured as animals, and chimps are a favorite target. In fact, I've seen many many depictions of Bush as a chimp in the 8 years he was in office. I think this artist doesn't understand that there's a new president, and he's black, so the old ideas will be taken in a different context even if he didn't intend so.

this is part of the walking on eggshells thing that comedians have been ranting about ever since Obama won. There's much less leeway with jokes because anything can potentially be racist.

[Sunflare]

Originally Posted by BillBlythe

I think this artist doesn't understand that there's a new president, and he's black, so the old ideas will be taken in a different context even if he didn't intend so.

Looking at this from your perspective, either:

1. The artist was on crack or hallucinating on LSD when he made the cartoon

2. His mother dropped him on his head when he was a newborn rendering him retarded from the brain damage

3. Has a bestalistic fetish for chimpanzees

Otherwise I can't see how this was a 'mistake.' Not to challenge your views but I just don't see it.

this is part of the walking on eggshells thing that comedians have been ranting about ever since Obama won. There's much less leeway with jokes because anything can potentially be racist.

Well sad to say but it will take decades for people to finally shut the door on racism and comment humorously on subjects without intentional or perceived racial overtones.

[AngryABCGirl]

Also very important to note, historically America has had a long and unfortunate history of depicting non-Whites as animal symbolically, monkeys and apes in particular Blacks and Filipinos, or other animals to make non-White less than human. While we all made fun of Bush as a chimp, it's a completely different ballgame when we assign an animal as a caricature to someone that isn't white. I keep hearing the Bush chimp argument, but white people in america have never been been drawn up as animals to refer to a group, meanwhile the rest of us all have, especially in the realm of political cartoons.

This might have slipped though or someone could have played the ambiguous card, however when you put a depiction of a chimp whose clearly refers the president, who is black, being shot by two white cops, especially in context much rioting in the bay area in the last few weeks because of a white cop shooting a black male, any clue this was in clear bad taste? Plus maybe the worse part of it, the cartoon isn't even remotely funny.

[Sunflare]

You know recently, in fact last Monday, I was a victim of racial profiling by the NYPD by means of a bullshit random search with racial slurs in a public area going from insults directed at midleeasterns to APAs when they realized I am a Chinese fucking American. Yes, I had in possession a switchblade but the cop after searching me at random, gave me back the knife and deaded it because I was ready to litigate and file a civil suit on the basis of racial discrimination immediately because I had witnesses, I screamed at him and told him I am not middleeastern you islamophobic fucking asshole. (As a hapa I can be mistaken for a middleeastern person by particularly whites)

I saw him again after this, but he's not fucking with me. Three white cops all in all.

Pardon the vicious rant. This is how being a blackie in NY is like, I'm just keeping this shit real.

[Sunflare]

To add it was a legal switchblade, but surprisingly it was never confiscated because I use it for work p/t in the printing industry as I'm continuing to go to school.

[snailpoo]

I just don't see this as intentional.

The chimp doesn't "clearly" refer to the president. While monkeys have been used in horrible racist carticatures, monkeys have more commonly, at least recently, been used to refer to the government. Which one is it? Here, examine the reference.

They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill

Obama did not write the stimulus bill. The nameless gophers for David Obey did the initial drafting, and then the nameless gophers for Susan Colins worked on it, and then the nameless gophers of the House and Senate negotiators put it together.

Obama signed the bill.

In order to make the case that this cartoon was intentionally racist, you'd have to conflate the role of the president with the nameless multitudes of the entire legislative process.

Does this fit the artist's intention? Scroll through the rest of his cartoons for the past week. Every one deals with the economy, and the theme of inept government pops up frequently.


And while the Oakland subway shooting was big news on the West Coast, it garnered very little attention here, and there is little follow up on it now two months later. Yet, for some idiotic reason the shooting of a chimp who appeared on TV is plastered all over every local media outlet here in NYC as it was something important.

I agree that the NY Post probably should have taken a second, good look at whether or not to publish the cartoon, but to declare it intentionally racist? I just don't see it.

[kimpossible]

Originally Posted by AngryABCGirl

This might have slipped though or someone could have played the ambiguous card, however when you put a depiction of a chimp whose clearly refers the president, who is black, being shot by two white cops, especially in context much rioting in the bay area in the last few weeks because of a white cop shooting a black male, any clue this was in clear bad taste? Plus maybe the worse part of it, the cartoon isn't even remotely funny.

I find myself nodding when I read this.

[Sunflare]

Originally Posted by snailpoo

Obama did not write the stimulus bill. The nameless gophers for David Obey did the initial drafting, and then the nameless gophers for Susan Colins worked on it, and then the nameless gophers of the House and Senate negotiators put it together.

Obama signed the bill.

In order to make the case that this cartoon was intentionally racist, you'd have to conflate the role of the president with the nameless multitudes of the entire legislative process.

Does this fit the artist's intention? Scroll through the rest of his cartoons for the past week. Every one deals with the economy, and the theme of inept government pops up frequently.

Originally Posted by snailpoo

I agree that the NY Post probably should have taken a second, good look at whether or not to publish the cartoon, but to declare it intentionally racist? I just don't see it.

Good points, however the New York Post has a notorious history, a very long one of screw-ups that sparked outrage by the readers several times over political views, race relations, and such...

Consider this piece of information concerning an article published in the NY Post that caused outrage in the Asian American communities in NYC some years back. Remember this?

http://www.nydailynews.com/index.html

Originally Posted by Article: POST'S 'WOK' HEAD NO JOKE TO ASIANS - NY Daily News

THE NEW YORK POST stumbled into hot water with Asian-Americans yesterday after publishing what angry readers said was a ham-fisted racial slur on its front page.

The Post's offending headline, "WOK THIS WAY" - a word play on "walk this way" and the traditional Chinese sauté pan - ran with a photo of President Bush tugging at the sleeve of Chinese President Hu Jintao at a White House event Thursday.

"It was racist and offensive because it takes the president of China and connects him to the stereotype of a cook in a Chinese restaurant," said Margaret Fung, executive director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Originally Posted by Article: POST'S 'WOK' HEAD NO JOKE TO ASIANS - NY Daily News

The Asian American Journalists Association also received calls about the headline - the third complaint about Post headlines in the past two weeks - prompting the group to refer the matter to its media watchdog committee.

"Individuals on the committee have expressed a range of concerns," said Janice Lee, deputy executive director of the San Francisco-based group. Committee members felt the wording was "insulting" and "perpetuates the stereotype of all Asians as cooks in chop suey joints," Lee said.

The Post defended its word choice, noting it was meant to convey a sense of humor.

So I really, in this case, with the shot to death chimpanzee cartoon by two white cops, I think it goes beyond a simple innocent oversight, given the history of this newspaper and it's contraversy over it's sensational form of journalism which crosses the line between good taste and subtle racist POVs on the part of the staff who are employed by this major local NY newspaper. Again, it's too obvious. The Afro-American community clearly should be offended by this given the abrasiveness of the reporting seen in the NY Post. They have a way of reporting that has a definite conservative bias which is really ridiculous.

[Sunflare]

The above link redirects to the main page, here's a link directly to the archives with the article :

http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/...o_joke_to.html

[AngryABCGirl]

Originally Posted by Sunflare

Good points, however the New York Post has a notorious history, a very long one of screw-ups that sparked outrage by the readers several times over political views, race relations, and such...

Consider this piece of information concerning an article published in the NY Post that caused outrage in the Asian American communities in NYC some years back. Remember this?

http://www.nydailynews.com/index.html






So I really, in this case, with the shot to death chimpanzee cartoon by two white cops, I think it goes beyond a simple innocent oversight, given the history of this newspaper and it's contraversy over it's sensational form of journalism which crosses the line between good taste and subtle racist POVs on the part of the staff who are employed by this major local NY newspaper. Again, it's too obvious. The Afro-American community clearly should be offended by this given the abrasiveness of the reporting seen in the NY Post. They have a way of reporting that has a definite conservative bias which is really ridiculous.

^Good to note too. NY Post has more a rep as being more like National Enquirer than like say, the NY Times. A lot of sensationalist journalism (just look at the site: http://www.nypost.com/). I think they might have figured they could get away with it with their reputation and just as a local paper, but somethings are just in such poor taste that it blows up nationwide.

[Broomer]

Originally Posted by Sunflare

Looking at this from your perspective, either:

1. The artist was on crack or hallucinating on LSD when he made the cartoon

2. His mother dropped him on his head when he was a newborn rendering him retarded from the brain damage

3. Has a bestalistic fetish for chimpanzees

Otherwise I can't see how this was a 'mistake.' Not to challenge your views but I just don't see it.

Well sad to say but it will take decades for people to finally shut the door on racism and comment humorously on subjects without intentional or perceived racial overtones.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I believe that the cartoonist and the editor happens to be Australian, so people might not be used our "unique" sense of humour.

Ka