OlderJohn Legend’s Open Letter To NY Post
The New York Post has apologized for a Sean Delonas cartoon that supposedly compared President Barack Obama to a chimpanzee.
The drawing showed two policemen over the body of a chimpanzee they’ve just shot as one officer says, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”
Neo-soul John Legend had written an open letter to the NY Post about it:
Dear Editor: I’m trying to understand what possible motivation you may have had for publishing that vile cartoon depicting the shooting of the chimpanzee that went crazy. I guess you thought it would be funny to suggest that whomever was responsible for writing the Economic Recovery legislation must have the intelligence and judgment of a deranged, violent chimpanzee, and should be shot to protect the larger community. Really? Did it occur to you that this suggestion would imply a connection between President Barack Obama and the deranged chimpanzee? Did it occur to you that our President has been receiving death threats since early in his candidacy? Did it occur to you that blacks have historically been compared to various apes as a way of racist insult and mockery? Did you intend to invoke these painful themes when you printed the cartoon?
(Click inside to continue reading John Legend’s letter…)
If that’s not what you intended, then it was stupid and willfully ignorant of you not to connect these easily connectable dots. If it is what you intended, then you obviously wanted to be grossly provocative, racist and offensive to the sensibilities of most reasonable Americans. Either way, you should not have printed this cartoon, and the fact that you did is truly reprehensible. I can’t imagine what possible justification you have for this. I’ve read your lame statement in response to the outrage you provoked. Shame on you for dodging the real issue and then using the letter as an opportunity to attack Rev. Sharpton. This is not about Rev. Sharpton. It’s about the cartoon being blatantly racist and offensive.
I believe in freedom of speech, and you have every right to print what you want. But freedom of speech still comes with responsibilities and consequences. You are responsible for printing this cartoon, and I hope you experience some real consequences for it. I’m personally boycotting your paper and won’t do any interviews with any of your reporters, and I encourage all of my colleagues in the entertainment business to do so as well. I implore your advertisers to seriously reconsider their business relationships with you as well.
You should print an apology in your paper acknowledging that this cartoon was ignorant, offensive and racist and should not have been printed.
I’m well aware of our country’s history of racism and violence, but I truly believe we are better than this filth. As we attempt to rise above our difficult past and look toward a better future, we don’t need the New York Post to resurrect the images of Jim Crow to deride the new administration and put black folks in our place. Please feel free to criticize and honestly evaluate our new President, but do so without the incendiary images and rhetoric.
Sincerely,
John Legend
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153 Comments
Bush never got that same respect?!!! well in America his approval rating only dropped AFTER his re-election and the economy went south. i knew in 2000 that we were in trouble. of course the rest of the world hated Bush because he was an imperialist but that doesn’t mean he didn’t get respect in the U.S. i don’t know where that is coming from.
I agree with # 8 # 25 and #30 I don’t think the cartoonist was talking about oboma anyway
Mr. Legend,
You’ve written a great letter that really expresses why the Post made a grievous and obvious error in publishing that idiotic “cartoon.”
Thank you so much for your eloquence! May the editors of that sorry “newspaper” wake up and realize that being responsible journalists is more important than publishing anything for — what? — shock value? Can’t even think of any reason they would publish anything like that.
Love dignified John Legend and his music….
Boycott any media that is tied to Murdoch!!!!
@ # 114What’s the BIG Deal, isn’t that where monkeys come from anyway, AFRICA, same as where blacks did!!! >>>> I hope you don’t procreate…Africa is where everyone came from, learn YOUR history!
#53 heck @ 02/20/2009 at 5:41 pm
Debbie:
I hate to tell you that while Africans used their enemies as slaves as did the Greeks and Romans(these people could earn their freedom and even wed their “owners”. However they have said, if they knew what horrors they had created by dealing with European Slavers, they would not. Because the Slavers took it to a different level. They used African Slaves because when thye tried to enslave Caribs, Native Americans etc…they ran away. Where could an African run in America?
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Who are “they”? The blacks who sold their own people into slavery? If your answer is “yes” then may I ask: “did you talk to them and was told this?”
Pundit,
Well said!
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Freedom of expression is a right here and well practiced by all members in this country, thereby makes this country great.
THANK YOU MR. LEGEND!! NOW…WHERE ARE ALL THE OTHER AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WHO SUPPORTED OBAMA DURING HIS CAMPAIGN? WHERE IS JAY-Z, BEYONCE, SEAN COMBS, RUSSELL SIMMONS ETC…BECAUSE I REFUSE TO HEAR THAT AT THIS POINT THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT THIS CARTOON. WOW THAT GOES TO SHOW THAT OUT OF ALL OF THEM ONLY ONE HAD ENOUGH BALLS TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT. THANK YOU MR. LEGEND!
@twostrikes @ 02/20/2009 at 10:03 pm, thanks for the link…so maybe science can prove that altough some believe they aren’t prejudice (conciencly anways), many are. Including African Americans (and I am an African American.
I for one, will not buy the new york post again. They have shown their true colors. I wish rational -minded individuals will say no to those idiots. And to those who sponsor them, I will no longer buy their products. People need to post their sponsors for all to see.
WWaw im impressed well done
Raise ur voice
If Americans are shy about discussing race, a big reason is the culture of intimidation promoted by people like Al Sharpton in the name of racial sensitivity. “Frank discussion” requires a willingness to trust that one’s interlocutor is acting in good faith. If Attorney General Holder is serious about promoting racial candor, let him use this incident to make the point. That would show a bit of courage on his part.
the only thing I would like to add is that Legend failed to mention that the cartoon is printed in black and white. that’s obviously racist too. so until the NY Post starts printing in full color, I will be boycotting their tyrannical and bigoted drivel.
NO MORE MONKEYS!!! NO MORE RACIST BLACK AND WHITE NEWSPRINT!
Im so over these blacks seeing racism everywhere. Someone could just shut them up. Or put them in a cage for God’s sake.
Jen…only if you join us tool!
WELL SAID JEN, TIRED OF THE BLACK AND THEIR WHINNEY CRAP!!!!! THEY LOVE TO PLAY THE RACE CARD ALLLLL THE TIME!,, If BLACK Men were so Proud to Black why are they Always With White Women!!!!!
wow he’s a great writer. great argument
Pat, go to hell….what were you left for an African American male? It’s your fault it was thick, long and strong enough, or you weren’t handsome, intelligent, or good enough…don’t know if you’re a man or a woman, but I’m pretty sure you were dumped for an African American, you sound like crap!
Are you for real? You are the one turning this into a racist cartoon. I subscribe to the Post and I saw this before all the outrage. It never occured to me that it was about BO. He didn’t put the stimulus package together, it was Reid an Polosi. Those two idiots. I think the black community is far too sensitive. Get on with it, you have a black president, be happy. Most people living today had nothing to do with slavery and don’t know what it is you’re talking about. I think the piece had to do with dummies putting the political package together, it’s filled with pork like 4 BILLION dollars to Acorn. Get serious why don’t you. People didn’t mind taking Bush through the coals because he was white, right?
Man, Sexy and Smart! The lady who owns his heart is a lucky girl.
John Legend hit it out of the park with this one!!! Nicely written Mr. Legend!
we need to boycott john stephens ( legend is his stage name) records.. stick to your sorry music…
Trish,Debbie,Jen and Pat are the most insensitive @ssholes!
Do you guys actually read what the f_ck you right?
You are the f_cking racists!
I am disgusted by the article, but even more so im disgusted by the ignorant comments on this page, YOU PEOPLE ARE SICK , FOUL INDIVIDUALS, our President as well as all Americans deserve to be respected, and this depiction was clearly drawn out of ill will , It’s time for everyone to stop beating around the bush when it comes to racism.
ABSOLUTE MAGNIFICANTLY PUT MR.LEGEND!!
IT’S A SHAME IN HOW WELL EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS TRY TO GO AROUND THE TRUTH OF WHAT THEY REALLY MENT BY THIS “PIECE”.MR.DELONAS SHAME ON YOU AND TO EDITOR AND EVERYONE WHO THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A ‘FUNNY’ “PIECE” TO PUBLISH!!!! MAY YOU REALLY REGRET WHAT THIS CARTOON HAS CAUSED AND MAY YOU REALLY LOVE AND TRY TO BETTER THIS COUNTRIES UNITY THAT WE SO DESPRITELY NEED!! STAND BY OUR PRESIDENT AND STAND BY YOUR COUNTRY. THE BATTLE THAT AWAITS THIS COUTNRY NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT IN UNITY NOT SEGREGATION, WE ARE ALLLL IN THIS TOGETHER!!!
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