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Black Newspaper Publishes Racist Cartoon of Black Legislator

By Carmen D. on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009, 8:48 am Comments

We have Nina Turner, a black politician, being caricatured as Aunt Jemima in a black newspaper, the Call & Post. Why? Because she disagreed with them on some legislation. Unacceptable in my opinion and the good news is, I think, most black folks are fed up with this kind of silencing tactic as well.

nina_turner2

Read my full article over at Aol’s BlackSpin. Here’s an excerpt:

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. Source: Black Newspaper Portrays Nina Turner as Aunt Jemima

  • uglyblackjohn
    I guess it's a sign of progress when Blacks can also be thought of as being racist.
  • AnonyMiss
    i was thinking the same thing.. or rather I was trying to decide whether or not to think this.
  • This is just plain disappointing. I'm not sure what's worse; the cartoon itself or the justifications in its defense. It's too easy to say 'If this were in the New Yorker . . . ", but I really wonder how many of those who condone this cartoon condemned that one.
  • sejoseph
    The master's house will never be dismantled by using the masters tools -Audre Lourde.
    If she subservient to white interests a critical dissection of her policies would have been more helpful than appropriating white stereotypes.
  • Thank you so much for writing about this Carmen! I just found it now, sorry. I was at a meeting last night where two African-American gentlemen who've been in this region for decades made it absolutely clear that disagreeing with Nina is and was one thing, but that they do not believe that even saving or using the image for purposes of "inside conversation" (like I can say I'm fat but no one else can) is absolutely wrong. They want to see the era of George Forbes gone, gone, gone. I did mention to them that I'm disappointed that neither the Plain Dealer, the Call & Post or the other takes I've read have said much about the role of allies in this kind of thing. I thought the white suburban mayors and prosecutor whose issue Nina supported should have gotten out front to condemn the image. However, this being Cleveland and not as forward as I would have thought it was, I've gotten some communications that white people here just do feel like they can say anything. We have got to do better on this front re: allies. But at least the image is being condemned pretty resoundingly - for being sexist and racist. Going to go read your full post now.
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