New York Post Cartoon Controversy
Protests and debate ensues at Hunter and beyond
Prakirti Nangia
Issue date: 2/25/09 Section: News
More than a hundred protesters gathered before the New York Post office near Rockefeller Center on Feb. 19 to condemn what they deemed a racist cartoon put out by the newspaper a day earlier. Here, at Hunter College students and faculty demonstrated similar sentiments.
An anonymous post on the Hunter-L Listserv by a Hunter student or faculty member, signed "S," said, "Reading the NY Post is just about the same as watching FOX News. Therefore, I'd encourage my fellow students/teachers to just not waste your time by reading it."
This response was one among many that followed after an initial listserv email was sent out by Tami Gold from Media Department, regarding the cartoon and the protest.
Journalism professor Greg Morris also posted a response and mentioned discussing the issue in one of his classes. "Several students in my in-depth writing class said the Post cartoon was racist. And then we argued," he said.
The controversial image, drawn by cartoonist Sean Delonas and featured on Page Six of the newspaper, depicted a police officer shooting a chimpanzee to death, prompting another cop to say, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
Critics believe the chimpanzee was a racist reference to the African-American heritage of President Barack Obama. The age-old symbol, they contend, calls to mind a long history of oppression of African-Americans in the United States.
Moreover, some say, the killing of the chimpanzee could be taken as a mockery of the threat to the president's life.
The other camp cited constitutional freedoms of speech and press to defend the actions of the newspaper. Others held that the purpose of the cartoon was not to demean a single race, but to use a recent news story about a chimp shot to death after attacking a woman to comment on an inappropriate stimulus package recently passed by Congress.
Responding to widespread criticism, the Post issued a defiant apology, citing its dissatisfaction with the stimulus package as a reason for the cartoon. "It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill. Period," said the editorial.
The newspaper also used another strand of defense. "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," it said.
Critics at the protest were not buying it. "Racist paper; shut down the Post," they chanted. Passersby cheered and speeding cabbies honked in support.
Protester Elaine Altman responded to the defense with a mocking grin. "Nice try," she said. "That's all I can say.
"And if this is an honest mistake, then they are idiots," she said, referring to the Post's staff.
Hunter alum Arnie Gittell, 66, joined the protest "to try to arouse the consciousness of people who still buy the Post," he said. "I am not surprised at anything in the Post. The sooner they get out of business the better."
Gittell also had a response to the free speech argument put forth by those in defense of the image. The cartoonists "can say what they want, but no one has to buy it," he said of the paper.
Oseye Mchawi, 62, said she participated in the protest in order to shut down the Post. Her first reaction to the cartoon, when she saw it online, she said, was anger. "I didn't break my computer but I was tempted to," she said.
Still, at Hunter College, there were those who did not believe racism was at play.
"I really didn't think the chimp was meant to portray President Obama," said one Hunter student who asked to remain anonymous, claiming that he was part of a minority at Hunter who felt this way.
Citing one of his favorite comedians, Carlos Mencia, the student asked, "When did we get to a point in this world where we have to be politically correct about anything and can't make jokes about the things that racially, culturally, and religiously differentiate us? Maybe the way to get rid of racism is to reduce it to nothing but a joke."
Back at the protest, one cautious bystander just observed from a distance. "These days everything is overreactive," he offered.
An anonymous post on the Hunter-L Listserv by a Hunter student or faculty member, signed "S," said, "Reading the NY Post is just about the same as watching FOX News. Therefore, I'd encourage my fellow students/teachers to just not waste your time by reading it."
This response was one among many that followed after an initial listserv email was sent out by Tami Gold from Media Department, regarding the cartoon and the protest.
Journalism professor Greg Morris also posted a response and mentioned discussing the issue in one of his classes. "Several students in my in-depth writing class said the Post cartoon was racist. And then we argued," he said.
The controversial image, drawn by cartoonist Sean Delonas and featured on Page Six of the newspaper, depicted a police officer shooting a chimpanzee to death, prompting another cop to say, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
Critics believe the chimpanzee was a racist reference to the African-American heritage of President Barack Obama. The age-old symbol, they contend, calls to mind a long history of oppression of African-Americans in the United States.
Moreover, some say, the killing of the chimpanzee could be taken as a mockery of the threat to the president's life.
The other camp cited constitutional freedoms of speech and press to defend the actions of the newspaper. Others held that the purpose of the cartoon was not to demean a single race, but to use a recent news story about a chimp shot to death after attacking a woman to comment on an inappropriate stimulus package recently passed by Congress.
Responding to widespread criticism, the Post issued a defiant apology, citing its dissatisfaction with the stimulus package as a reason for the cartoon. "It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill. Period," said the editorial.
The newspaper also used another strand of defense. "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," it said.
Critics at the protest were not buying it. "Racist paper; shut down the Post," they chanted. Passersby cheered and speeding cabbies honked in support.
Protester Elaine Altman responded to the defense with a mocking grin. "Nice try," she said. "That's all I can say.
"And if this is an honest mistake, then they are idiots," she said, referring to the Post's staff.
Hunter alum Arnie Gittell, 66, joined the protest "to try to arouse the consciousness of people who still buy the Post," he said. "I am not surprised at anything in the Post. The sooner they get out of business the better."
Gittell also had a response to the free speech argument put forth by those in defense of the image. The cartoonists "can say what they want, but no one has to buy it," he said of the paper.
Oseye Mchawi, 62, said she participated in the protest in order to shut down the Post. Her first reaction to the cartoon, when she saw it online, she said, was anger. "I didn't break my computer but I was tempted to," she said.
Still, at Hunter College, there were those who did not believe racism was at play.
"I really didn't think the chimp was meant to portray President Obama," said one Hunter student who asked to remain anonymous, claiming that he was part of a minority at Hunter who felt this way.
Citing one of his favorite comedians, Carlos Mencia, the student asked, "When did we get to a point in this world where we have to be politically correct about anything and can't make jokes about the things that racially, culturally, and religiously differentiate us? Maybe the way to get rid of racism is to reduce it to nothing but a joke."
Back at the protest, one cautious bystander just observed from a distance. "These days everything is overreactive," he offered.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Yvonne Fowler
posted 2/27/09 @ 9:20 PM EST
Racism is not a joke. In my humble opinion, the way to get rid of racism is through education. Ignorance is sad; we need to teach tolerance, respect and acceptance of other people. (Continued…)
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