"Such disrespect for the concerns of those most subject to the effects of racism in our midst is inexcusable."

I hate to break this to you... but EVERYONE experiences the effects of racism. Every time someone is not hired or accepted to a college of their choosing because of "Affirmative Action" that person experiences the effects of racism.

When there are essentially zero scholarships geared towards white males because of a highly racist/sexist assumption of privilege racism is shown to exist.

If a black person assaults a white person, it's assault. However if a white person assaults a black person it's a "hate crime," which by the way carries a much heavier sentence.

These are only three examples where it looks like the 14th Amendment's "equal protection" clause does not apply to white folks.

Even the media shows a huge bias against whites when it comes to the subject of racism. They use the term "reverse racism" as if to indicate whites are the only people capable of it.

But go ahead... keep preaching about how bad black folks have it, don't allow anyone to poke fun at or expose racism propagated by any black organization. Because, as we all know it's just not possible for black people to be racists.

Yet another person more concerned about something insignificant like a cartoon than the fact that the majority of black kids don't have fathers.

Maybe one day they will start listening to Cosby who has finally started speaking the formerly unspoken and address the true issues impacting them in society.

Like Chris Rock says, "If a kid calls his grandma 'mama' and his 'mama' Pam, that kid is probably gonna end up in jail."

Shake and Bake!

Yet another person more concerned about something insignificant like a cartoon than the fact that the majority of black kids don't have fathers.

Maybe one day they will start listening to Cosby who has finally started speaking the formerly unspoken and address the true issues impacting them in society.

Like Chris Rock says, "If a kid calls his grandma 'mama' and his 'mama' Pam, that kid is probably gonna end up in jail."

Shake and Bake!

Yet another person more concerned about something insignificant like a cartoon than the fact that the majority of black kids don't have fathers.

Maybe one day they will start listening to Cosby who has finally started speaking the formerly unspoken and address the true issues impacting them in society.

Like Chris Rock says, "If a kid calls his grandma 'mama' and his 'mama' Pam, that kid is probably gonna end up in jail."

Shake and Bake!

Sorry for the multiple post. Not sure why that happened.

Jean,
I agree with you about the cartoon. Only problem is, that the Pulpit forum was "USED" by those seeking to gain from this. They are the ones who really should be ashamed.

Hi Jean,

Thanks for your letter. I'm the person who drew the cartoon in question. You're probably right that "racism" isn't actually the Pulpit Forum's response to every issue.

However, they are definitely playing up that angle with regard to the Bellamy-Small recall, as they did with Gatten a few months ago, and that's what I'm concerning myself with here. There is no indication that Gatten or the organizers of the recall are racist, yet the Pulpit Forum has made that a central part of their argument. To lob around accusations like that in such a cavalier manner is in itself - in my opinion - harmful to race relations as well as to any legitimate arguments they may have about the recall effort. It also has the effect of brushing aside any consideration of the possibility that Bellamy-Small *has* conducted herself in a questionable manner, and that too is a disservice to the community she was elected to serve.

Call me what you will, but I found that cartoon hilarious (and painfully close to the truth!).

Anthony, I appreciate your clarification of your cartoon. Yet if the catalyst for your doing this was related to the Bellamy-Small situation, then that is not clear. Someone seeing the cartoon but knowing nothing about the situation that perhaps inspired it would simply see this as an attack on the Pulpit Forum. By implication it would then follow that your perspective was racist in its message. (I seldom respond to any comments following a letter of mine but because you took the time to explain your reasons, I want to acknowledge that.)
Jean

Jean (and Anthony, in a way),

Let me offer voice to the hypothetical "someone seeing the cartoon but knowing nothing about the situation..." you present. I am that person, new to the area, and new to your newspaper. I began reading the paper two days before the cartoon was printed. I saw it and had no idea who Bellamy-Small was, but I instinctively knew what the artist was trying to convey. And it was a commentary involving racial prejudices, but not so much on the Pulpit Forum, and certainly no attack. God help us all if criticism is seen as an attack. I saw it as a statement regarding a sad current trend that takes true discussion out of the marketplace. That trend is a disturbing tendency for accusations of white-on-black racism to arise whenever impropriety comes to light. Reference the NC Black Caucus scholarships story for a recent example. Instead of having an open discussion on the matter and explaining what the process was and which actions were taken, the leader of the group all but called Mr. Sinsheimer, who brought the problem to light, a racist. If you disagree, why did she bring up that Mr. Sinsheimer was white while saying his inquiries looked to be "racially directed"?

The trend seems to be to deem someone a racist so that no more discussion is needed, because once someone can be painted as having corrupt viewpoints (He's a bigot!) then their opinions are no longer valid. And no more questions posed by the bigot need to be answered.

The cartoon wasn't an attack on the Pulpit Forum, but instead on tunnel-vision and narrow minds who look for easy ways out of difficult discussions.

Roger

Roger, I couldn't have said it better myself.

Roger, et al,

The Pulpit Forum, in my opinion, is a poor disguise for a bunch of bigots. If that isn't what the cartoon was supposed to show, it should have been.

Here's a little prophecy:

When the democratic nomination process gets down to the wire, be prepared for some incriminating accusations to fly showing that Hillary once used the N word or some other kind of racist insinuation. I can see the headline now "The pot calls the kettle black" Everybody knows that the race car always works. Obama will win. Taking all bets....

Jean,

I'm glad you read my reply - thanks for responding to it. Regarding your comments, I can appreciate that the cartoon might not be crystal clear. Unfortunately, cartoons can be something of a blunt instrument - exaggeration is one of the main tools of cartoonists, and by necessity a lot of nuance gets left out. It's always a fine line deciding how much context can be put in without cluttering up the cartoon, and sometimes I may err in not putting enough in.

One item I would like to address in your comment though. You said, "Someone seeing the cartoon but knowing nothing about the situation that perhaps inspired it would simply see this as an attack on the Pulpit Forum. By implication it would then follow that your perspective was racist in its message."

Unfortunately, that's exactly the sort of leap I'm arguing against with this cartoon. The mere fact that I criticize the Pulpit Forum does not make my perspective racist. As mentioned in my previous comment, that sort of leap brushes aside the criticism as nothing more than a result of a racist attitude, and fails to look at the criticism on its own merits. I agree with you that some will make that leap, but I think that's unfortunate, and probably unavoidable. Even with added context, some will assume the worst.

Roger was pretty close in his analysis of the cartoon, and I thank him for taking the time to post his thoughts.

Regarding nitpicker's comments: that, of course, is my biggest fear in all this, that someone will see my cartoon and associate me with attitudes like that. I guess that's just an occupational hazard of sorts. I certainly don't think that the Pulpit Forum are a bunch of bigots, I just think they are being counterproductive with their rhetoric.

I wish the N&R would provide a link in cases like this.

The News and Record is the main enabler of the Pulpit Forum as the only time the media (N&R) gives the Pulpit Forum a stump to stand on is when it's a racist allegation.

Cut off the media exposure and you cut off their vehicle for their racist comments and opinions.

Roger, excellent interpretation of the comic!

Shalom

Rufus,

If you meant a link to the cartoon, here it is:

http://www.pleadthefirst.com/2007/07/23/cartoon-pulpit-forum-card-night/

Roger,

Welcome to Greensboro-
We who have lived here for a while have been so inundated by the charge of racism that we have become somewhat immune to it. You will find that often during a discussion, the joker in the deck will be thrown out when logic is lost. Nothing says ignorance better than "don't try to confuse me with facts, I've mad up my mind" (see any post by Darryl or TLC).

BOR, thanks for that vote of confidence. Remember, to denote another in the manner above only helps to show one's own true self. I really appreciate the validation given to me.

Shalom

What Hugh said !!

Anthony:You are spot on about the racists over at the pulpit forum, although you didn't call them that on this blog your cartoon gored the ox that needed a jab to cajones. How does it feel to have the card played on you ?

I have been upset with this editorial cartoon since the moment I read it on Sunday. I wrote as much on Allen Johnson's blog (Thinking Out Loud) this week--and he generously let me vent my concerns at-length for which I'm grateful.

As I said on Allen's blog, I welcome dialogue including this cartoon--if it were located in a space that offered more meaningful dialogue. But, it does not appear that the N&R (or most blogs in blogsboro) offer such a safe space for actual dialogue about race.

To the contrary, the blogosphere seems to amplify views which share an affinity, often championed in the white community, for 'colorblindness' (much as our Supreme Court recently ruled). While folks have every right to such views, there are many within this community that would strongly disagree with such views. Once again, this forum does not attract or does not seem a valid or safe enough space for meaningful dialogue where community can disagree agreeably. Perhaps it is not the medium, but the culture.

One suggestion could be a collaboration of some kind between the N&R and the Carolina Peacemaker, and/or the Rhino and Yes Weekly. We have a fairly robust local printed press. However, they all play to their respective choirs. Nothing wrong with that: but might our local press aspire to more in keeping with their civic obligations?