The New York Post published (February 18) the political cartoon shown here, depicting two police officers standing over the carcass of a bullet-riddled chimpanzee, with the animal representing the author of the stimulus package.
What were they thinking at the Post? Most likely they weren't! The decision to run this cartoon was not only irresponsible, but racist and hurtful. It seems unthinkable that an editor of a major newspaper with a multi-cultural readership would not understand (or ignore) the history of Black people being depicted as monkeys and apes. Worse, when confronted, Post editor Col Allan dismissed people's concerns as baseless.
If you find this publication and response unacceptable, you can respond in several different ways:
1) Please go to http://www.colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=1268-827362 and send an email to
Col Allen, New York Post Editor-in-Chief.
2) You can write or call the New York Post directly at:
C/O Col Allen, New York Post Editor-in-Chief
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-8790
(212) 930-8000
Since Publicizing The Cartoon...
1) An internal email from New York Post editor, Sandra Guzman, was released publicly. In it, she distanced herself from the Sean Delonas' cartoon by stating that she had nothing to do with it; saw it for the first time in print, like the rest of the world; and, has expressed her displeasure to management. In an untypical fashion, the inner dissension among employees at the Post has leaked out and become public.
2) The New York Post did issue a "sort-of" apology on its website (February 19) as a result of growing criticism. As a half-hearted apology, it almost didn't do justice to the concept of an apology. Here's what it said, under the heading "That Cartoon," in its entirety:
Wednesday's Page Six cartoon - caricaturing Monday's police shooting of a chimpanzee in Connecticut - has created considerable controversy.
It shows two police officers standing over the chimp's body: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill," one officer says.
It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill.
Period.
But it has been taken as something else - as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism.
This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize.
However, 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.
Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon - even as the opportunists seek to make it something else.
My Response to the Cartoon:
I was deeply saddened to learn of the New York Post's recent publication of Sean Delonas' cartoon depicting a bullet-riddled chimpanzee, killed by what seemed to be white policemen. The caption, “They’ll have to find some else to write the next stimulus bill," obviously implied that President Obama was to be symbolized by the dead chimpanzee. Since President Obama is seen as the author of the current stimulus package and is also a Black man, it is impossible to imagine that anyone would claim that this imagery was not intended to evoke the past racially-charged comparisons of Black people to monkeys. This either points to editorial ignorance or down-right racism on the part of your editorial staff. Shame on the Post and shame on the way you are trying to down-play what has been done!
Yes, I know that the recent shooting of a chimpanzee by a police officer has been in the news, but to make this comparison goes far beyond irresponsible – it’s unconscionable!
I was appalled by the Post's sole response to readers who found the image to have racist undertones. The ridiculous attempt by Col Allan, issued Wednesday, to play down this issue is a denial of historical reality. For him to claim ignorance of this history raises questions about his ability to effectively lead a daily newspaper geared toward a mainstream and multiracial audience.
I am writing to insist that you publish an apology. I also ask that whichever editor approved Delonas' cartoon for publication be terminated. Do the right thing and take some responsibility for this egregious act!
Please publish an apology that acknowledges that it was a mistake for the Post to publish this cartoon within the next two weeks, or I intend to bring legislation before my denominational body (The United Methodist Church) to ask for members to consider boycotting your paper as both readers and advertisers. I will also be talking with my colleagues in other denominations asking that they do the same. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,Rev. Steve Clunn
My Response to the Half-Hearted Apology:
Dear Mr. Carlucci,
Publisher, New York Post
Your half-hearted attempt at an apology; one that holds no one accountable for your cartoon's racist portrayal of President Obama and that acknowledges no wrong on your part is simply an insult!I am not one of your enemies or "opportunists." However, I was and continue to be deeply offended by your practice of allowing such a cartoon to be published and then not taking any responsibility for your egregious mistake.To post this half-hearted apology on the internet, rather than publishing it in your newspaper (as you did the cartoon) adds insult to injury.I will continue to wait the two weeks that I mentioned in my earlier email to you, for a "real" apology (that admits your mistake) to be published in your paper. If this does not happen, I will move forward with calling for my denomination (United Methodist) and others to lead a boycott in readership and advertising of the Post.
Very Sincerely,
Rev. Steve Clunn
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