John Legend: 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
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Mr. Legend:
Nice letter
I couldn’t agree more
For the price of a coffee
The Post played the whore
Boycott, folks.
Thank you Mr. Legend for standing up and writing such a wonderful letter! I agree with you 110%. I’ve never enjoyed reading the NY Post and for sure now I never WILL!!!
Lock up the editor and send him to Gitmo
I congratulate Mr. Legend for his directness. It is very obvious that racism is alive and well.
you the man G
Ditto and good for you Bro. Legend for echoing the sentiments of not only Black Americans, but, I’m confident enough in America’s progress to say, MOST Americans!!!! We do not appreciate the insult and blatent disrespect for who God has allowed to lead us and who America has decided should lead us!!! Again, well written Bro. Legend and that says it all!!!
Kim S.
Holbrook,MD
John, your letter to the editor was on point. As outraged as I am for the depiction of the President of the U.S. as a monkey, I am just as outraged by the insinuation of his violent demise. I believe that when (if) the Secret Service AND the FBI shove a probe up the rear end of the folks who make such statements about his assassination, whether with words or caricatures, it will curb others who think such statements are American.
thank you for you thoughtfulness and sincerity. i just hope that your words do not go unnoticed. and that many do stand strong and not support this paper. we often talk strong and finish weak, but this time i hope you and your colleagues do stay strong and don’t support this paper by giving interviews and buying this paper anymore. We as a people need to show solidarity now more than ever…
They can say whatever they want but as long as there are folks out there who finds this mess funny this world or this country will never get past the racial hatred that has plagued us (EVERY PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE) for eons……..I say that anyone who buys this magazine or subscribes to it should voice their disdain for these types of cartoons. I cannot for the life of me figure out what the hell did the Chimp in Connecticut going berserk have to do with the economic stimulus plan and no one, and I mean no one out there can get me to see their rationale, but I will not stop you from trying. John, thank you for speaking out against this insane mess and I pray that others in the industry follow your lead and stop supporting these kinds of media outlets who are not in tune nor want to be in tune with our NEW POST RACIAL GENERATION.
Is Barack Obama incapable of speaking up for himself, against racism and for black people?
I don’t think “capable” is the right adjective. We know he is capable; I think what you’re trying to ask is, does he want to speak out against racism and exclusively for black people? Or will he ever be at liberty to do so? Those are good (and fair) questions to ask….questions I don’t think we will quite know the answer to in the immediate future. He does have convenient excuses to ignore the “madness”. Cleaning up Dubya’s mess and installing universal health care to name a couple…
Good philosophical inquiry.
Great job, John Legend!!!! Let us not be lulled into a sense of complacency due to the recent political success of President Obama. Racism still exists in this country and it is not only rearing its ugly head in the media, but in our schools, judicial system, shopping malls, etc. In some cases, even more than before President Obama was elected. There is a quiet backlash that is occurring. Like all things, nothing is perfect on this planet, in this world. But when unfair practices occur in our daily lives, we have an obligation to be active on issues that simply cannot be ignored. We must always speak out!!!!
It is a shame that we have not buried the snake of racism within this the supposed “greatest nation on the planet”. I applaud Mr. Legend’s sentiment. But I fear that this is only the beginning. I was just sent an e-mail regarding a display in the Coral Gables, Florida Barnes and Noble book store. The display was of all of President Obama’s books and those written about he and his lovely wife. Ensconced in the middle of this display was a book on monkeys. We must stop passing the buck in this country. IT IS ALL OF OUR PROBLEM. We have always killed the best and brightest who chose to put their literal necks on the line. E.G. JFK, RFK, MLK, Abe Lincoln, to name a few. These men were only humans, but they gave us hope during desperate times. There are too many nay sayers in this country, starting with the Republican party. To them I say ” shame on you”. We are facing very dark financial times and we need everyone in the boat to pull together or we will all sink. The time for bonuses and elaborate corporate living must be put on hold. And Democrats, ( yes you), STOP THE PORK SPENDING!!!!
We need all hands on deck! All special interest must stop. If the little people keep losing jobs, there will be no one to buy anything in this country. We need to focus people. Stop letting your attention be diverted by news fluff. Start harassing your congress person and senators. ALL OF WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO BE HEARD. To the person who wanted to know if Obama could or would speak for himself, I say no he should not engage in a reply. I would think that he is a little busy right now. Besides, the cartoon is an offense to the people of this country and I think that we have responded no matter what color we are.
Dear John, thank you for the intelligent and well deserved harranging of the editor of the NY Post. It has become a habit for not only editors (newspapers), but politicians, radio hosts, etc., to print or convey these vile images since President Obama began his journey to the Presidency. I am glad that you spoke up and didn’t bite your tongue or hide behind your fame and not respond to this blatant stereotype and recall of the past insults against black people. Thank you.
Poor Chris Brown. That guy can’t catch a break!
AMEN! AMEN!! So Eloquently and well put!! Very much what I thought about the situation!
A very big thank you John for standing up with integrity and courage. I live in London and would not of known of the the New York Post’s scurrilous activities if not for your stance.
Keep shining the light on these dark practices.
Thank you John for standing up, and putting it down!! The nerve of some people never ceases to amaze me. That paper will never dot my door step nor will I set eyes on it again. A billion apologizes could never right this wrong.
this is why we should be married
big ups to JL for taking a stand && to anyone else who speaks out against the enemy.