Log Out

RI newspaper 'saddened' cartoon offended some

Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:03 PM EDT
, , , , , ,
Associated Press
Advertise | AdChoices

PROVIDENCE — The Providence Journal says it's "saddened" some readers have been offended by an editorial cartoon depicting a mixed-race Rhode Island lawmaker as a shoeshine boy.

The cartoon, which ran Saturday, showed House Majority Leader Gordon Fox shining the shoes of House Speaker William Murphy, who was wearing a crown. The cartoon prompted an outcry by the NAACP, which said it was inappropriate to depict a person of color as subservient.

Fox is half Irish and half Cape Verdean (VEHR'-day-an). Cape Verde is an island off the West coast of Africa.

The newspaper on Thursday stopped short of an apology, but explained the cartoonist, Jim Bush, did not mean to refer to Fox's ancestry.

Cliff Montiero, president of the NAACP in Providence, says he's satisfied and calls the paper's explanation a step in the right direction.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
  • Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Back To Top | Front Page

Published to:

John Whittet

My god. It's not about race.

  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:45 PM EDT
Rainkiss

The cartoon prompted an outcry by the NAACP, which said it was inappropriate to depict a person of color as subservient.

While I'm usually not thrilled with cartoons depicting racism... This line grates. Simply because a person is "of color" doesn't exempt them from the same treatment as everybody else. The visual would have worked if referring to, say, Glenn Beck shining Rush's shoes, and, far as I know, shoeshine boys weren't a traditionally "repressed black" job, it was something kids did for money.

  • 2 votes
Reply#2 - Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:57 PM EDT
John Whittet

I say this on every similar seed: racism is intent, not interpretation. Taking offense at a depiction of a person in no way reflects a transgression by the author.

The cartoon prompted an outcry by the NAACP, which said it was inappropriate to depict a person of color as subservient.

The NAACP is suggesting that it is appropriate to depict a white person a subservient, and I, as a white person, take offense to that.

  • 2 votes
#2.1 - Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:32 PM EDT
Reply
Leave a Comment:
You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
Newsvine Privacy Statement
As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.