Phillip Sciarello, a publisher and part owner of the
Smithtown Messenger in Long Island, is defending his newspaper after a
picture appeared that some believe to be a racist stereotype of the First Family. The picture depicts President
Barack Obama and
Michelle Obama as characters from
"Sanford and Son." The public backlash has led the paper to announce that it will issue a retraction in its next edition.
The picture is part of a "before and after" sequence of the last six presidents, showing how much they age once they get in to the White House. The "after" photo of the Obamas shows Barack Obama as
Fred Sanford (
Redd Foxx) and Michelle Obama as
Aunt Esther (
LaWanda Page). The characters are standing ready to fight, as was typical on the 1970s television show.
The pictures led the Brookhaven town board to remove one of the company's sister publications, the
Brookhaven Review, as an official newspaper. This means that the paper will no longer publish town government notices.
"The reference to racial stereotypes is where the line was crossed," Brookhaven Supervisor
Mark Lesko said to
Newsday.
Hazel N. Dukes, president of the state NAACP conference, stated that the county should pull advertising from any publication that runs the photo.
"It is simply shocking and outrageous that such a blatantly racist ad would run in any paper, much less an official paper of Suffolk County," Dukes said. "New Yorkers of all races and ethnicity are disgusted by it and reject it."
When it comes to the Obamas being depicted as characters from the show, "Sanford and Son," it can be difficult to ascertain the motives of the newspaper. Racism is such a subtle demon in our society that we can have a difficult time understanding it, fighting it and identifying it. If we are not careful, we can get to the point where any reference to our race will lead to accusations of bigotry and discrimination. Being a fan of free and fair expression, I remind all of us to be careful in how we respond to things that insult us.
In this particular case, however, the picture was highly inappropriate. Of all the presidents and first ladies presented on the editorial page of this newspaper, none of them were portrayed in a satirical way. To show every other president and his wife in a dignified posture and then show the only black first family as two comical television characters was out of line, and not surprising from a publication that leans to the political right.
Throw the book at this newspaper. They deserve it.
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Comments: (147)
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By: Tish on 5/07/2010 10:57AM
Sorry going off blog, but I have to say this about this racism in this country. We have the power to turn things around, fix it for the right thing for the good of all men. November 2010 we can do it at the polls and show the world, and this country that it is still a very few people in this country of hate by beating them at the polls. The sad thing is it is some good republicans in this country, but the hate groups have taken over that party. I hope that dam bill that Liberman is talking about, to take Americans citizenship if they are known to have terrorist connections. Sounds like a good idea to me starting with palin with her pro America, reload and crosshair marks on the map. That is true terrorism, along with the whole tea bagger group. That is one way to get rid of the racist in this counrty. Some cities won't let them in it, it should be every where. Now they want to profile the hispanic, racial profiling, they already have the Native Indians on reservations, put the Japanese in camps, enslaved the blacks, what race is next? It is time to stop these hateful people and we can do it at the polls in November. Everyone should vote to take our country back from the hateful people that try to control with their hate. It will soon be one party, it is starting now with the conservative, moderate,progressive,liberal democrats. The name democrats won't be used it will be the American people, conservatives,progessives,moderate,and liberals that is what is in washington now on the democrat side. That group of people will keep the balance and checks and that is all that is needed without a party name. That is what I love about the Coffee Party, all races, and party lines can sit and talk with civility and respect for the same common goal this country. Everyone that you know get them out to vote.
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By: eldohill on 5/07/2010 11:03AM
I like Toni W comment, yes some white people are the root of allevil, but of late it is proving to be the greater majaority, I was always taught comming up that white people were the devil and t hat has stuck with me, maybe not all are spawns of stan but the grater majority are and as long as you have the devils around and they are allowed to spreew there hatread there will never be peace on this earth.
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By: Tish on 5/07/2010 4:52PM
I had a white friend so I thought for over 30 years. She was married to a black guy, I had her to take me to get my car fixed, my baby was 2 and she was playing with a rope belt she had on her coat. The person that I thought was my friend told my baby this what I hang n***ers with. From this day to that day I have not said another word to her and that was 15 years ago. So I treat whites with a very long handle spoon, I don't have a dislike because of what she said, but I deal with them very differently now. Like the old folks would say don't dislike them, but be prepared they think that they can get real close to you they can use that word.
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By: D on 5/19/2010 8:59PM
Are you typing in secret code? Try getting an education so you can sound like you might be a little coherent.
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By: John Flenoil on 5/07/2010 9:00PM
White people haven't learned yet. They are going to learn one way or another. God is good.
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By: katlyn on 5/07/2010 11:34PM
Yawn....... but here you are 24/7 posting all day long with the "racist" Blacks. Your the resident BV Fool!hahhhahahahahahahahhahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!
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By: Kandi on 5/07/2010 11:45AM
Total blasphemy !!! Seems nothing is sacred anymore....We should respect our President and his family. Depicting the president and his wife the way they have several times only shows the bigotry, racism, and hatred still only shows how we're going backwards instead of forwards. Just like we were taught to respect our parents and elders, we show know to respect our President and his family. He's the one not sleeping at night trying to undo all the wrong that's been done for so long. Have some respect Americans....or are you Americans?
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By: girlking on 5/07/2010 11:51AM
Mike, you have to first know the definition of racism before invoking the word. The fact that aol set-up a forum that is geared towards African-Americans does not make the topics racist. Just because you are uncomfortable with the topics that are important to African-Americans doesn't make it racist. I would suggest you go to another site for your warm and fuzzy feelings.
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By: D on 5/19/2010 9:27PM
Then why do you have all these people hurling racial attacks on whites here Girlking?
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By: Mary on 5/07/2010 12:23PM
Racism!!!!!!!!!!!!!Phillip Sciaiello the pubisher and part owner is Is a racist or a very dump person. But the last laugh is going to be on him. I think he has hurt his paper.
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