Is This NY Post Cartoon Racist?

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by Lamar Tyler | on February 19th, 2009 | 19 comments

Sometimes people pull the race card when it’s really not warranted but what about this cartoon? Is it hidden or not so hidden racism by the NY Post. Delonas the cartoonist said he wasn’t even talking about Obama… You can check our Roland Martin’s reaction to this by clicking here.

About the author

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler are the creators of the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com . They also are behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVDs Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me and Men Ain’t Boys that explores manhood in the African American community. The Tylers are also the proud parents of four children.

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Comments (19)

Anonymous Thursday - 19 / 02 / 2009 Reply

Yes its racist but do you expect anything different...its certainly not a suprise...and I'm not the overly sensitive type when it comes to race...they could of used the Democratic mascot
malik Thursday - 19 / 02 / 2009 Reply

Yes its racist but do you expect anything different...its certainly not a suprise...and I'm not the overly sensitive type when it comes to race...they could of used the Democratic mascot
rafiki Thursday - 19 / 02 / 2009 Reply

Yes it is racist and no way near being funny. Is there an end to this nonsense near??
8thlight Thursday - 19 / 02 / 2009 Reply

The first thing I thought is that it was a shot at Congress. I figured that had to be what they were thinking. I would hope that all of the people that had to sign off on this before it made it to print would have seen the overt racism in it. In equating the first Black POTUS to a primate. The second thing I thought was that it wasn't smart or funny on any level. They were doing this for pure shock value. They wanted attention and they got it. It was race baiting at the most elementary level. It was racist just for the sake of attention. Sad 8thlights last blog post..Street Fighter IV Launch Party
ghettoManga Thursday - 19 / 02 / 2009 Reply

yep. that qualifies... ghettoMangas last blog post..gM Awards: Man of The Year
elle denise Thursday - 19 / 02 / 2009 Reply

BS...sure he wasn't! elle denises last blog post..Spring Break Shopping Party @ FRESH Boutique!
MissJay Thursday - 19 / 02 / 2009 Reply

Well there you have it. This is NOT a "post racial" America.
Harriet Thursday - 19 / 02 / 2009 Reply

I, for one, HATE playing the race card. But if I did, this would be my ace of spades. No doubt.
Anonymous Thursday - 19 / 02 / 2009 Reply

It never even crossed my mind that this was an attack on the President. I thought it was a mildly amusing jab at the stimulus bill, that it was so badly written it must have been done by a monkey. Besides, wasn't the bill prepared by David Obey?
MissJay Thursday - 19 / 02 / 2009 Reply

They talked about it on the Steve Harvey Morning Show this morning. You would have thought they way they were talking about it that it was a direct jab at the President. I was expecting to see the monkey in a suit with the official Pres seal on it or something. I agree with Anon 1:04, I think it was more geared at congress than the Pres. How many times was W Bush compaired to a monkey? The only people who really know the meaning behind it are either covering something up, or telling the truth and we don't want to believe it. Who knows. Either way it wasn't all that funny to me. And I still stand beside that we are not in a "post racial" America.
Lori Friday - 20 / 02 / 2009 Reply

There's so much disturbing about the cartoon, it's hard to know where to even start. Historically, Blacks and Africans have been associated with monkeys by racists and those who consider Blacks and African as something other than human. Historically, African Americans have been gunned down by the police. Historically, African American leaders have been routintely assassinated. And exactly who or what "they" are the officers referring to in the cartton? Really, the only thing the not-so-funny cartoon lacks is a dangling noose . . . Loris last blog post..
Tianna Friday - 20 / 02 / 2009 Reply

Yes!!!!!!!!! That is the most racist cartoon comic ever. They already call us a "monkey". People need to wake up and get real now. We are all about "change" right now.
Jonesi Friday - 20 / 02 / 2009 Reply

I try not to get too deep sometimes but I agree with the deeper meaning of this cartoon like Lori stated. But I didn't loose any sleep...I hate to admit it, but I'm kinda desensitized to these type of happenings. No matter what...people always find a way to justify being disgustingly out of order.
CC Friday - 20 / 02 / 2009 Reply

You d*# right it is!
Jonesi Friday - 20 / 02 / 2009 Reply

@CC....haha short and sweet! lol
Bob Friday - 20 / 02 / 2009 Reply

This is certainy a racist cartoon in the most highest form. How can The NY Post be so insensitive in the month of Februray ( Black History Month).How could the proof reader and the cartoonest not see this would be a problem . Tell me where is the humor in the cartoon , can someone tell me as I am still looking for it .
Denise Porter Friday - 20 / 02 / 2009 Reply

I was sadded to see so many people took this cartoon out of context, We as of race of Afro-American are becoming to sensitive. Let it had been and black comedian telling it as an joke, it would have probably be laugh at. I agree with Anon:104 It was probably gear for congress,instead of the president.
Anna Saturday - 21 / 02 / 2009 Reply

Denise Porter said: I was sadded to see so many people took this cartoon out of context, We as of race of Afro-American are becoming to sensitive. Let it had been and black comedian telling it as an joke, it would have probably be laugh at. I agree with Anon:104 It was probably gear for congress,instead of the president. ~~~~~~~~~ I agree. If a black magazine or comedian had printed/ made a joke we would have found much more humor in it. The cartoon did happen durning Black History Month but as quickly as one can be offended I have to remember the nonintelligent thinking behind the cartoon. A chimp was killed by police officers because he mauled a woman. I don't see ppl bitching and complaining or protesting about the music airing on our radios in our own homes that uses the "N" word or women are hoes, and bitches. Should we respect our president, yes. Did many disrespect our last president, yes. Did I go to jail for calling Bush an 'idiot' no. All is fair. The New York Post did have a lame apology. The apology was more so due to the backlash they received. We can't play the race card all the time. President Obama may have signed the deal but he can't sign things that were not voted on. I just say that poor choice was made with the editors to print what they did. Being I saw the pic of a tastelss cartoon I'm over being offended because ppl don't realize that the chimp was a family member to the owner who begged the officers to shoot him. Why she had a chimp as a pet is another story.
Patra Wednesday - 25 / 02 / 2009 Reply

I found no humor in that cartoon, and wouldn't have, had it been published in a black magazine. I was immediately offended by it. I was even MORE offended by Murdoch's claim that the cartoon was not racist.