The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) calls on the Editor in Chief of the NY Post to fire the NY Post cartoonist. NAACP calls to set down those who are involved in the decision of publishing "a blatantly racist cartoon comparing our commander in chief to a dead chimpanzee"
"I missed the joke..." writes the front page two paragraph story at NAACP and taking position on NY Post's cartoon publishing.
"The New York Post's decision to publish a blatantly racist cartoon comparing our commander in chief to a dead chimpanzee is absolutely unacceptable, especially given the historic racist stereotypes of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys.
"Join me in demanding that the Editor-in-Chief and all those involved in the decision to print the image step down from their positions at the New York Post. In addition, we want the New York Post to print a full, and unequivocal apology. The Post needs to know that there is no room for this kind of insensitivity and divisiveness -- it distracts us from the real work that we need to do to foster an era of change, collaboration, and acceptance of all people."
Then NAACP calls for an action.
There is a message to Mr. Rupert Murdoch, which the site visitors can sign and send directly from NAACP's website.
The message reads
I am writing you today to let you know I will not tolerate racist images and caricatures in your newspaper. I ask you to take immediate action to renounce the racist cartoon published in your paper on Wednesday showing two police officers, one with a smoking gun, standing over the body of a bullet-riddled chimp. This blatant exhibit of racism, comparing our commander in chief (also featured signing the stimulus bill on the issue’s facing page) to a dead chimpanzee is unacceptable, given the historic racist stereotypes of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys. I strongly urge the immediate firing of the Editor-in-Chief and all those involved in the decision to print the image. I also demand that the New York Post publish a full, unequivocal apology for the misguided decision to print the cartoon.
Your publication sadly reminded me of the reality that even in 2009, when an African American man holds the highest post in the nation, racism is alive and well in the United States, and that we have a long way to go to ensure civil and human rights of all people. There is no room for this kind of insensitivity and divisiveness – they only distract us from the real work that we need to do to foster an era of change, collaboration, and acceptance of all people.
As a supporter of the NAACP, and as citizen committed to ending racism and promoting civil rights for all people, I ask you to do better.
At best insensitive to the victim of this week's mauling of a woman by a pet chimp, and at worst racist, the New York Post released a cartoon this week that could be interpreted as comparing Barack Obama to a chimpanzee.
The NY Post has defended itself by writing ""The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist."
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