Not Just Another Political Cartoon
Jovonte Santos
Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: News
Would you believe that one cartoon could spark an entire nation to debate over questions of race, history, freedom of expression, and the possibility that racism is still alive and well?
Termed as an editorial or political cartoon, the intent is to illustrate in a comic strip like manner a political or social message, which relates to recent national or international events.
On February 18, 2009, the political cartoon gained a new lime light after political cartoonist, Sean Delonas, of the New York Post, posted what he assumed was a normal cartoon. This cartoon has spurred intense debates as scholars, activists, and citizens have voiced their opinions for or against the cartoon.
The editorial cartoon in The New York Post depicts a police officer shooting a chimpanzee, while telling his partner "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
The debate looms over the image of the gunned down chimpanzee, and what does the animal symbolize. Critics of the cartoon charge Delonas with comparing President Obama with the chimpanzee. This would be no issue, if it wasn't for the fact that there is a longstanding racial slur that blacks can be likened to monkeys, apes, and chimpanzees.
What is less noted is that Delonas' chimpanzee was in reference to the 200-pound pet chimpanzee that was shot dead by a police officer in Stamford, Conn, after it mauled a friend of his owner, just two days prior to the post of the cartoon. Little would he know that he would create the "cartoon seen around the world."
Regardless of Delonas' intention to discuss current events, in a satirical manner, many whether, they are black or white, see it as a blatant attack on recently elected Barack Obama, who just so happens to be black. Critics agree that the cartoon reopens a history of racist imagery of blacks found in mainstream cinema, literature, and American culture.
Outspoken political activist, Al Sharpton has stated "Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama (the first African American president) and has become synonymous with him it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?"
In a phone interview with CNN, Delonas called the controversy "absolutely friggin' ridiculous." "Do you really think I'm saying Obama should be shot? I didn't see that in the cartoon," Delonas said. "It's about the economic stimulus bill," he added.
Not only have people been outraged and have slandered Delonas, many are questioning the integrity of the New York Post. Barbara Ciara, president of the National Association of Black Journalists, said the Post showed a "serious lapse in judgment" by running the cartoon.
This heated discussion has found a place at Alcorn, as she sits in a state that has been synonymous with racial tensions. Many students, and faculty, have also chimed in on this hot topic. In order to get a census of the opinion held at Alcorn State, students, faculty, and community members of various racial backgrounds, ages, and gender were shown the cartoon and asked about their impressions.
After seeing the cartoon, the reactions varied. A large majority of the student population immediately concluded that the article was an outright attack on recently elected President Barack Obama.
Marlon Harris, Senior Education Major, states, "Racism clearly, why would they publish it. White men killing a monkey!! Cleary it is about Obama."
"The words say enough," stated Biology Major, Archie Taylor, "the cartoon doesn't have to say a word" continued Taylor.
Faculty on the other hand, understood the claim that the cartoon could be racist, yet weighed in the timeliness of the events surrounding it.
"When I first looked at this, I didn't attribute it to the president. It could also reference the past eight years, or that the government as a whole is run by monkeys, and anyone can do the job. The question in terms of this touchy debate is whether the cartoon is fact, or opinion," stated Dr. Kenneth H. Williams, Professor of History and Social Sciences.
"I understand all the intellectual arguments for why the post would come off as racist, but it also must be looked at in terms of the timeliness of the event surrounding it. Though it may reveal some unconscious racial images, it does depict a true story of police shooting a chimpanzee," said Dr. Scurria who is the Chairman of the English and Foreign Language Department.
One student was able to remove her own opinion when it came to race, and discrimination, and saw the issue in terms of not an attack on Obama, but an opportunity to discuss the freedom of expression and the responsibility that comes with it.
"Images can go beyond the call of a political cartoon in terms of political satire. Cartoons shouldn't criticize to the point that it can appear to be degrading, though that may have not have been its intent," said Junior Mass Communications major Brandi Pikes.
Termed as an editorial or political cartoon, the intent is to illustrate in a comic strip like manner a political or social message, which relates to recent national or international events.
On February 18, 2009, the political cartoon gained a new lime light after political cartoonist, Sean Delonas, of the New York Post, posted what he assumed was a normal cartoon. This cartoon has spurred intense debates as scholars, activists, and citizens have voiced their opinions for or against the cartoon.
The editorial cartoon in The New York Post depicts a police officer shooting a chimpanzee, while telling his partner "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
The debate looms over the image of the gunned down chimpanzee, and what does the animal symbolize. Critics of the cartoon charge Delonas with comparing President Obama with the chimpanzee. This would be no issue, if it wasn't for the fact that there is a longstanding racial slur that blacks can be likened to monkeys, apes, and chimpanzees.
What is less noted is that Delonas' chimpanzee was in reference to the 200-pound pet chimpanzee that was shot dead by a police officer in Stamford, Conn, after it mauled a friend of his owner, just two days prior to the post of the cartoon. Little would he know that he would create the "cartoon seen around the world."
Regardless of Delonas' intention to discuss current events, in a satirical manner, many whether, they are black or white, see it as a blatant attack on recently elected Barack Obama, who just so happens to be black. Critics agree that the cartoon reopens a history of racist imagery of blacks found in mainstream cinema, literature, and American culture.
Outspoken political activist, Al Sharpton has stated "Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama (the first African American president) and has become synonymous with him it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?"
In a phone interview with CNN, Delonas called the controversy "absolutely friggin' ridiculous." "Do you really think I'm saying Obama should be shot? I didn't see that in the cartoon," Delonas said. "It's about the economic stimulus bill," he added.
Not only have people been outraged and have slandered Delonas, many are questioning the integrity of the New York Post. Barbara Ciara, president of the National Association of Black Journalists, said the Post showed a "serious lapse in judgment" by running the cartoon.
This heated discussion has found a place at Alcorn, as she sits in a state that has been synonymous with racial tensions. Many students, and faculty, have also chimed in on this hot topic. In order to get a census of the opinion held at Alcorn State, students, faculty, and community members of various racial backgrounds, ages, and gender were shown the cartoon and asked about their impressions.
After seeing the cartoon, the reactions varied. A large majority of the student population immediately concluded that the article was an outright attack on recently elected President Barack Obama.
Marlon Harris, Senior Education Major, states, "Racism clearly, why would they publish it. White men killing a monkey!! Cleary it is about Obama."
"The words say enough," stated Biology Major, Archie Taylor, "the cartoon doesn't have to say a word" continued Taylor.
Faculty on the other hand, understood the claim that the cartoon could be racist, yet weighed in the timeliness of the events surrounding it.
"When I first looked at this, I didn't attribute it to the president. It could also reference the past eight years, or that the government as a whole is run by monkeys, and anyone can do the job. The question in terms of this touchy debate is whether the cartoon is fact, or opinion," stated Dr. Kenneth H. Williams, Professor of History and Social Sciences.
"I understand all the intellectual arguments for why the post would come off as racist, but it also must be looked at in terms of the timeliness of the event surrounding it. Though it may reveal some unconscious racial images, it does depict a true story of police shooting a chimpanzee," said Dr. Scurria who is the Chairman of the English and Foreign Language Department.
One student was able to remove her own opinion when it came to race, and discrimination, and saw the issue in terms of not an attack on Obama, but an opportunity to discuss the freedom of expression and the responsibility that comes with it.
"Images can go beyond the call of a political cartoon in terms of political satire. Cartoons shouldn't criticize to the point that it can appear to be degrading, though that may have not have been its intent," said Junior Mass Communications major Brandi Pikes.
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