A cartoon of the viral chimpanzee attack that appeared in Page Six of the New York Post on Wednesday, Feb. 18 is drawing allegations of racist stereotyping of blacks as monkeys.
The drawing references the recent chimp attack in Stamford, Conn. where Travis the chimp was shot to death by police officers after it violently attacked a friend of its owner.
The cartoon shows two police officers, one of which holds a smoking gun, with a chimp bleeding on the ground. The outrage and racism allegations stem from the accompanying caption that reads, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”
With Obama having signed his administration’s economic stimulus plan the day before the cartoon was published, the caption is an obvious jab and mockery of Obama.
“How could the Post let this cartoon pass as satire?” said Barbara Ciara, president of the National Association of Black Journalists. “To compare the nation’s first African-American commander in chief to a dead chimpanzee is nothing short of racist drivel.”
What's Driving This Trend
- Racist Stereotyping
- There is a growing trend of backlash against racist depictions and stereotypes in various forms of media.
- Racial Sensitivity
- There is an increasing emphasis on promoting racial sensitivity and cultural understanding in the media and entertainment industries.
- Social Media Activism
- Social media platforms are becoming powerful tools for activists to call out and raise awareness about racist content.
Who This Affects Most
- Media & Entertainment
- The media and entertainment industries need to reassess their content and ensure it does not perpetuate racial stereotypes.
- Journalism
- Journalists and news outlets need to be more conscious of their content and avoid publishing racially offensive material.
- Advertising
- Advertisers should be aware of the negative consequences of using racially insensitive imagery and messaging in their campaigns.
