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Open Letter to the New York Post

Dear Editor:

I'm trying to understand what possible motivation you may have had for publishing that vile cartoon depicting the shooting of the chimpanzee that went crazy. I guess you thought it would be funny to suggest that whomever was responsible for writing the Economic Recovery legislation must have the intelligence and judgment of a deranged, violent chimpanzee, and should be shot to protect the larger community. Really? Did it occur to you that this suggestion would imply a connection between President Barack Obama and the deranged chimpanzee? Did it occur to you that our President has been receiving death threats since early in his candidacy? Did it occur to you that blacks have historically been compared to various apes as a way of racist insult and mockery? Did you intend to invoke these painful themes when you printed the cartoon?

If that's not what you intended, then it was stupid and willfully ignorant of you not to connect these easily connectable dots. If it is what you intended, then you obviously wanted to be grossly provocative, racist and offensive to the sensibilities of most reasonable Americans. Either way, you should not have printed this cartoon, and the fact that you did is truly reprehensible. I can't imagine what possible justification you have for this. I've read your lame statement in response to the outrage you provoked. Shame on you for dodging the real issue and then using the letter as an opportunity to attack Rev. Sharpton. This is not about Rev. Sharpton. It's about the cartoon being blatantly racist and offensive.

I believe in freedom of speech, and you have every right to print what you want. But freedom of speech still comes with responsibilities and consequences. You are responsible for printing this cartoon, and I hope you experience some real consequences for it. I'm personally boycotting your paper and won't do any interviews with any of your reporters, and I encourage all of my colleagues in the entertainment business to do so as well. I implore your advertisers to seriously reconsider their business relationships with you as well.

You should print an apology in your paper acknowledging that this cartoon was ignorant, offensive and racist and should not have been printed.

I'm well aware of our country's history of racism and violence, but I truly believe we are better than this filth. As we attempt to rise above our difficult past and look toward a better future, we don't need the New York Post to resurrect the images of Jim Crow to deride the new administration and put black folks in our place. Please feel free to criticize and honestly evaluate our new President, but do so without the incendiary images and rhetoric.

Sincerely,
John Legend

this is a great letter

Not a big fan of his music, but I can't deny this critiquing of The NYP.

I must take my hat off to John....he's put his ass on the line to come out and attack the Press .....take note people the post will be digging up as much Sh*t on him as they can find....this is not over....

Well done John Legend .....now let's see how many so called "artist" / "stars" will support him...


[Edited 2/20/09 5:24am]

I applaud John for taking this ragsheet to task. I don't need to boycott as I've never found the paper worthy of purchase but I do encourage their readers to find another news source.

I give big props to John Legend with that letter. He was on point from start to finish.

To those of you not from New York, the NY Post is easily the worst, celebrity-driven, horribly-slanted, conservative rag in the world. It is and has always been a reprehensible paper not even worthy for wrapping fish. Kudos to John Legend for taking them to task. Other posters are right; the Murdoch machine will use its operatives to dig up dirt on any of its enemies and shower flowers on its friends. I'm not a fan of boycotts for speaking your mind and expressing your opinion, but that cartoon was over the line. Folks should vote with their pocketbooks and not purchase the garbage that is the NYP.
As for John Legend; buy his CD, show him some love While he didn't write what he did for material gain, it takes courage to come out and do what he so eloquently did.

I know it's my fault but everytime I see John Legend I read John Lennon. This sucks. Who's John Legend anyway?

graecophilos said:

www.johnlegend.com

Well said, Mr. Legend.


Though, the Post could explain this away and claim they were "play acting".
[Edited 2/20/09 8:17am]

Fuck the Post. Great letter, John!

daPrettyman said:

Oh, I see. He has a new single out.

purplecam said:

I agree completely. You can tell he took great care writing this letter and took moxie to denounce the NY Post for publishing the cartoon. I, too, believe in the First Amendment, but not without its responsibilities. It was stupid or at best, irresponsible of the Post to publish this cartoon. At the same time, it doesn't surprise me. The Post is garbage pretending to be a real newspaper.
Anyone who reads it needs their head checked.

NY Post apologizes — to some — over Obama cartoon

Protest outside NY Post over cartoon

AP – New York State Senator Eric Adams stands in front of the New York Post building holding a cartoon that … NEW YORK – After two days of protests, the New York Post apologized Thursday for a cartoon that some have interpreted as comparing President Barack Obama to a violent chimpanzee gunned down by police. But the newspaper also said its longtime antagonists exploited the image for revenge.

The qualified apology didn't mollify at least some of the cartoon's critics, who said they might continue protesting Friday.

The newspaper posted an editorial on its Web site Thursday evening saying the cartoon was meant to mock the federal economic stimulus bill, but "to those who were offended by the image, we apologize."

The piece was posted hours after 200 picketers chanting "Boycott the Post! Shut it down!" marched in front of the paper's office, saying the cartoon echoed racist stereotypes of blacks as monkeys.

The editorial said that "most certainly was not its intent," adding that some media and public figures who have long-standing differences with the paper saw the cartoon "as an opportunity for payback."

Calling them "opportunists," the editorial said: "To them, no apology is due."

graecophilos said:

Actually, John is pretty outspoken when it comes to politics.

it's nice to know that there are still some celebrities out here with big enough balls to call people out when they are obviously wrong. As someone stated before, let's see how many will follow his lead...this will be interesting.

missfee said:

missfee said:

Awesome of him.

Not a fan of John's music. But, very well said regarding the NYP issue.