A black-owned and operated newspaper in Cleveland has grabbed national headlines for running a cartoon that portrays Ohio State Senator Nina Turner as Aunt Jemima. As you can guess, the Call & Post is not a fan of Nina Turner and vehemently disagrees with her on important legislation passed by voters last month. Issue 6 overhauls county government by separating the executive and legislative powers until now held solely by county commissioners. Issue 6 backers argue that it will give county government more checks and balances and that the elimination of most county offices will streamline some government functions and save money. Nina Turner was the only black elected official to to support Issue 6.
Most black elected officials and community leaders wanted further study of the reform and were specifically worried about how changes would impact the education of "50,000 Black school children in the Cleveland School District". Because Issue 6 sponsors would not consider the education issue explicitly, almost all black leaders rejected the reform.
The decision by Call & Post, owned by Don King, to call-out Nina Turner by portraying her as the subservient, smiling, always-white-people pleasing Aunt Jemima, because she supported the reform, has folks protesting and defending the cartoon with equal and opposite energy.
Even the local NAACP chapter appears to have a split opinion of the cartoon.
Stanley Miller, executive director of the Cleveland NAACP civil rights organization, which opposed Issue 6, said he was bothered by the cartoon and plans to ask his board Tuesday night to formally address it.
"It was disturbing to me," he said.
Miller said he's not upset about the politics behind the cartoon and accompanying editorial, but by the negative stereotype that dates back decades.
"It's more about the image of an African-American woman in 2009," said Miller, who logged several complaints Monday about the cartoon.
Miller's view could put him at odds with NAACP President George Forbes, who is legal adviser to the Call & Post and holds great sway over its editorials.
Forbes said in an interview Monday that he stands by the cartoon and said critics miss the point of the editorial view: Issue 6 does not specifically address the needs of Cleveland school children yet Turner backed the plan anyway.
"The cartoon is no more unfair to black people than what she did to black people in not securing some type of concern or something in return for the kids in school," he said. Source: Call & Post called out for cartoon depicting Nina Turner as Aunt Jemima, Cleveland.com
I agree with Robyn Minter Smyers, who launched a Facebook group Monday called, "We demand an apology for Call & Post's Aunt Jemima":
"This use of a racist caricature crosses a line and demeans us all," she wrote. "We stand together to say we will not stand by and permit the debasing of any of our sisters and brothers in this way." Source: Cleveland.com
Vintage Racist Advertising
Top left LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 1: Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav present onstage at the VH1 - Big in '04 on December 1, 2004 at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Top right: 1899 -- Uncle Tom's Cabin: Topsy Illustration --- Image by © CORBIS; Bottom right: 1930s AC spark plugs ad in The Saturday Evening Post -- Photo by The Authentic History Center; Bottom left: This cartoon image provided by the New York Post appeared in the Post's Page Six Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. The cartoon, which refers to Travis the chimp, who was shot to death by police in Stamford, Conn. on Monday after it mauled a friend of its owner, drew criticism Wednesday on media Web sites and from civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton. (AP Photo/New York Post) ** NO SALES ** Credit: Getty Images / Corbi / Authentic History Center / AP
Getty Images / Corbi / Authentic History Center / AP
Advertisement for an African-American slave sale.
Although the enslavement of mankind in general has been recorded as early as 1200 BC; the first African slaves were reportedly transported to the 'New World' in 1517. This is 76 years after the first black slaves were captured and taken to Portugal.
Bettmann / Corbis
African American Stereotypes: Products and Advertising c.1880s Tin of Nigger Hair Tobacco
For decades this product was sold in stores as chewing tobacco or for smoking. It was advertised as 'pure, unadulterated, fine old burley leaf.'
Photo Source: The Authentic History Center
The Authentic History Center
1888 -- Seal of North Carolina Tobacco - The Darktown Bowling Club Poster -- Image by © Swim Ink 2, LLC/CORBIS Seal of North Carolina Tobacco - The Darktown Bowling Club Poster
Swim Ink 2, LLC / Corbis
ca. 1890 -- Zoulou Powder Poster (French advertisement)
Because offensive advertising was permeated throughout the world for many years, (and still is, as you will see in a few upcoming slides) it should come as no surprise that in more modern times 'racism has become the scourge of European soccer stadiums.'
Swim Ink 2, LLC / Corbis
ca. 1899 --- Uncle Tom's Cabin: Topsy Illustration --- Image by © CORBIS Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Topsy was a stereotypical pickaninny character in the book, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin.' Uncle Tom was a slave in the book. The term 'Uncle Tom' is recognized to be offensive and a derogatory name for a black man who is abjectly servile and deferential to whites.
Corbis
ca. 1899 --- George Thatcher's Greatest Minstrels Poster --- Image by © CORBIS George Thatcher's Greatest Minstrels Poster
Early definition of minstrel: a medieval poet and musician who sang or recited while accompanying himself on a stringed instrument, either as a member of a noble household or as an itinerant troubadour.
The black-face minstrel act was a very popular form of entertainment in 19th-century America. White audiences were receptive to the portrayals of Blacks as singing, dancing, grinning fools. T.D. 'Daddy' Rice, the original Jim Crow, became rich and famous because of his skills as a minstrel. Interestingly though, when he died in New York on September 19, 1860, he was broke.
Corbis
African American Stereotypes: Products and Advertising 1899 Durkee's Salad Dressing advertisement, Harpers Magazine
Notice the broken English purportedly spoken by black Americans, 'We're gwine ter live high ter-night ...'
Photo Source: The Authentic History Centerr
The Authentic History Center
Advertisement for Clarence Brooks and Co.'s Fine Coach Varnishes uses racist stereotypes to depict a group of African-American adults and children as they cheer and watch two shirtless boxers, one of whom appears unconscious, accompanied by the text "the Championship Fight, Sullivan Wins," late 1800s. The Sullivan in the text is a reference to boxer John L. Sullivan, who fought bare-knuckled in several famous bouts.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
Advertisement for the St. Louis Beef Canning Company features an illustration of a stereotyped African-American character sitting on a can of beef, accompanied by phonetically rendered, stereotypical dialect-style text that reads: 'No Sah! dont jine no Exodus so as dis Beef lasts,' late 1800s.
Showing blacks to massacre the English language, further perpetuated the false idea that African Americans were somehow unable to be educated.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
Comments: (169)
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By: JC on 12/02/2009 9:10AM
It's a sad day when we can't agree to disagree. I understand anyone's stance on disagreeing with her choice to not support what's needed to educate or help our school children. BUT,must we resort to such "old south" demeaning tactics. And while we are at it, STOP!!! using the "n" word on each other---we are long gone from being force to live on plantations,told what to think,forbidden to read, etc. WE HAVE CHOICES & need to make wiser choices in speech,living styles,spending, education,etc.
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By: mike on 12/02/2009 7:06PM
This is a stunning example of racial and racist double standards. Put that or anything half as racially offensive on FOX news or talk radio and congressional hearings would ensue.
It is also a perfect example of the herd mentality among socialist/leftist groups. If you are not with them you are the enemy. There is no room for the individual opinion where the collective rules.
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By: Bonnie on 12/02/2009 7:14PM
I hadn't scrolled down to see your comment even though I had my anser in my head. Like you I agree. I'm white and from the south. This cartoon bothered me a lot. Maybe in context and viewed by the black community it isn't offensive. My father was a racist and I have spent my life undoing the damage he did to my mind when I was small. I guess I always will be no matter how much I think I have addressed it. To me this made me cringe just as much as the "N" word. It seems to me (and please tell me if I'm wrong-I probably am-*smile*) that every time I see something like this, my mind couldn't be further away from even thinking about race. To suddenly be reminded about it again is like a bad dream. I don't think it's because it's a subject I don't want to address, because I will clearly and easily discuss racism with anyone. It's the fact that as our generations change, why keep throwing it out there for the "last" generations of racists that still exhist to laugh about again in front of the coming up young people to be negatively influenced by those they might respect?
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By: Letitia Joyner on 12/03/2009 9:46AM
@ Mike your comment was alright until you got to the leftist, I see you just had to throw that in. Before Obama it was the do as I say ruling down to blank checks of billions spent on a war and no checks and balances. Back to the thread, these tpyes of cartoons are what the racist of this country feeds on. Giving an inch and they will take a mile, and the next thing that you know this country will be set back 400 years with the racist thinking it is ok to say and do what they want to other races. If they are dumb enough to put that type of print out, they are dumb enough to try to push their racist agenda. It is not ok by any means.
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By: kww328 on 12/03/2009 11:48AM
I agree 100%. There are so many racist abroad and they hide behind keyboards on a dailey bases. I say God speed President Obama. There is lots to be done to wipe out racism and biggotry------ terrorism exist right under our noses in KKK and white supremicist orgainizations. Take a look at Nascar----- look at the type people it attracts--------those carrying rebel flags , drinking cheap beer, indulging in incest , cashing welfare checks by the thousands. We needed change and now change is in the Whitehouse.
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By: Tired of Poor ME attitude on 12/02/2009 11:18AM
I am so glad it was not a WHITE paper. There would be outrage enough to go around. Since it was BLACK paper, most of y'all are silent. Double standard maybe? It was not right.
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By: George on 12/02/2009 2:52PM
Agree! If I had said this or implied it with a cartoon I would be publicly castrated as a "white" racist. But now it can't be "racist" since a black paper says it. Bull! We have a racist for a president and first woman so what would you expect.
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By: watdafuk on 12/03/2009 9:34AM
Isn`t this carrying this P-C crap a bit far? Black people are mad at a Black owned and operated newspaper for busting on a black person? Where`s Fat Al Sharpton when you don`t need him.
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By: Gary on 12/03/2009 10:30AM
If it was a white paper then you would see Jesse, Al and Oprah on every network demanding that the paper be shut down and the artist arrested!!! This is NOT a racist comment - just pointing out facts of the past.
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By: Marcus Smith on 12/04/2009 10:01AM
I've infered the "Black-owned" newspaper was not demonstrating racism toward the African American politician whom I did not remember the name of. rather, they were accusing her of being the "White man's" slave, and pushing the agenda of the caucasian politicians. I don't know for certain, but I wouldn't suggest that because the specifics of the education portion of the reform bill were uncertain for a district of prodominately African American students, that it was the intention of caucasian politicians to impair the education of afore mentioned students. Those who would suggest this must have some sort of a phobia or are prejudice toward white people, where they would see an uncertainty of the effect a reform would have on a majority black student body as some plot of "The White Man". This demonstrates a biased, preconcieved notion, that all white people are evil and racist,and that my good friends,is racism.
-White Student, age: 16.
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