The Lincolnian

Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Opinion

This New York Post cartoon created protests that were led by Rev. Al Sharpton

Freedom of Speech and freedom of press are arguably two of the most important rights that we have as Americans. From a personal standpoint, these two freedoms are crucial to the livelihood of myself and future journalists entering the field. Though we are allowed to feel, say, and think whatever we want, the recent political cartoon by New York Post artist, Sean Delonas has ignited some controversy since its publishing a few weeks ago.

The cartoon shows two police officers firing a gun at a monkey. As the primate lies lifeless on the sidewalk, the caption says "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."

Many have seen the cartoon as racist because President Obama has recently been working on the Stimulus Bill to help the economy. Considering his race and Obama's position on the Bill, many equate that the murdered primate is the president.

According to the Huffington Post, Rev. Al Sharpton responded to the cartoon in this way: "The cartoon in today's New York Post is troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys." Sharpton continued by saying, "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?"

Personally, when I first saw the cartoon, I was in shock. Then my next notion was that whoever drew the cartoon and allowed it to reach the pages of the newspaper was just simply insensitive to the times and the feelings of a group of people. Truthfully, I still feel that the cartoon is racist, maybe even ill-advised on the editor's part at best. Intentional or not, the depiction is insensitive.

Col Allan, editor-in-chief of the New York Post responded to Sharpton remarks by saying: "The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to with 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."


Allan makes an interesting remark when he calls Sharpton out on his position in the media. Sharpton responded to the cartoon the same day that it was released and sometimes I find that his statements get a little old. When the Jena Six story, Hurricane Katrina, or the Don Imus scandals broke, he was the first one on the news with a statement or his involvement was known in some way.

Continued...

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