Looking at the cover of Vogue magazine featuring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen (Vogue, April 2008), one wonders what Anna Wintour and her editors were thinking of, or if indeed, they were thinking at all. Commentary on the cover ranges from James as King Kong, bearing his teeth whilst grasping Bundchen in one hand, to James putting on his game face while an obviously unthreatened Bundchen smiles benignly.
Sports Commentator Jason Whitlock then sparked his own controversy on the Internet over the weekend prompting letters from some of my readers!
Tamara Shelly a Publicist who runs Caiz Communications in Toronto representing urban and hip-hop figures then fired a letter to Whitlock and I received a copy of that letter. This is a good POST and READ! BRACE YOURSELF!
Mr. Whitlock,
Your article on MSN.com is very concerning and actually disgusts me, with no exaggeration of the word.
The handbook that you are suggesting only encourages the insensitivity that Blacks have to deal with when dealing with namely, White people. I've concluded that you are just as under qualified to represent Black men as you suggest that Lebron James is because you're encouraging the stereotype that Black people are just angry and don't even know what to be angry about. You're encouraging the thoughts that we are always playing the race card, when the reality is, the race card, makes up the entire faulty deck that we have been dealt.
Do you think that this is the first portrayal, ever, in history, that paints the Black man as animalistic? A barbarian? A ferocious beast? An animal? Sub human?
This notion that the Black man isn't human, is the foundation on which racism is founded and festered. It was this belief that made the studding of our strongest black men, the lynching of men and women, whippings and countless other tortures justifiable for over 400 years. And the fact that it's continually perpetuated leads to many injustices that still prevail today. Don't believe me? Look at the prison population, injustice in the courts, police brutality... if I go on, I may develop carpal tunnel syndrome.
The part that really irks me about your write up though is how you try to flip the script and say,
Would we be having this discussion if LeBron struck the same pose on the cover of Ebony while holding Selita Ebanks? Think about it. And if we wouldn't be having the discussion, what does that say about us? Are we only bothered by negative images of black men when the primary/sole consumer of the image is white people?
Ebony would never portray another Black man like a beast. For you to even mention the classic, groundbreaking magazine alongside your narrow minded, Uncle Tom views, as a comparison to a racist magazine, that you yourself say is not made for US, is unnerving.
And yes, it is bothersome when negative images of Black men or women are portrayed negatively to all white audiences, because Blacks have been the butt of the joke for much too long. Why should Whites continue to profit from the humiliation of Blacks? The coon act is played out. But this does not mean that Blacks are not aware of the negativity our own community perpetrates and that we don't speak out against it. Have you seen the recent episodes of the Boondocks? Probably not because they were banned from your 'FREE' country.
The difference is that our indiscretions DESERVE understanding, and warrant education. And the reason for that, is because the effects of racism have bred 'self-hatred' into the minds of blacks for years. It was forced upon us to ACT like we were inferior. When our people touched Western soil, I am sure that they didn't forget who they were, their ancestry, or their history; but in order to survive, to let this history of kings and queens live on, they had to play the part of the inferior. Once again, the jig is up! Where we need understanding,when offences are made but when the shoe is on the other foot Whites need reprimanding!
In any abusive situation, it's the offender that needs to be corrected and the victim who needs to be educated. But we are rarely painted as victims because there is no empathy in the eyes of those who view us as less than human. Look at the Rodney King tapes! Look at the fact that Blacks have never received any form of reparations!
Why you are dragging Tyler Perry into this is another thing that boggles my mind. If this cover is not racist in your eyes, why not compare it to something or someone White to show what IS in fact a racists innuendo? There are many examples to choose from. You have the White mentality that says, "Well Blacks, call each other Nigger, why can't we call them that??" History says you can't that's why!!!
Tyler Perry is taking a hold of REALITY and putting it on the big screen to grab our attention but within the script, enforces messages of love, positivity, community, wisdom, history... again the risk of carpal tunnel keeps me from continuing. Every black person can see themselves or someone they know within Tyler Perry movies. White media are the ones who say that he has found what Black people want to see in theatres. But the truth is Hollywood filmmakers have never cared to research! Hollywood has always known what Blacks wanted to see... but never cared. They have seen the success of Spike Lee and countless other Black filmmakers and playwrights so even that 'credit' to Tyler, is a discredit to so many others.
Therefore this Animalistic idea, is not to be sensationalized, like the cover of Vogue, because anyone who knows the history of slavery and it's root causes would be sensitive to this issue. The Vogue cover is just as racist as a white man in blackface makeup! But you'd probably call that a 'modern' day clown and argue the origin of white face paint?And compare the white face paint worn by "Homie the Clown". Did Vogue, truly capture Lebron as really he is? Aside from being a star athlete, he is married, he is a father, and is also a role model to other kids with hoop dreams. Does the picture say all that? Any of that? No! It did not capture him as he is. You make it seem as though this portrayal was a lucky break for the young star, because otherwise he looks like a prisoner or gangster with all of his tattoos. Tattoos do not a dangerous man make, the origin of tattoos are not from prison or gangs but from ancient times in Africa and the Eastern world.
"... You see, showing up to work in a white T and iced-out (heavy jewelry) was their way of showing loyalty to their boys in the 'hood, a shout-out to the corner boys and girls."
Was that was it really was?Do you think that is what these NBA stars are thinking about as they get dressed each day? It this form of dress a deliberate attempt to acknowledge corner boys and girls in the 'hood, the way that Hornecek acknowledges his kids when he rubs his face at the freethrow line? And if it was some sort of homage to them, where is the harm in that? The last time I checked, white t's, baggy jeans, and bling is the current style in hip hop culture worn by people of all races, sex, and ages, all over the world. So much, that you don't even need to explain to your readers that iced out means heavy jewellery. The style is that popular. Why is it that when Lebron shows himself for who he is, it's not okay in your eyes. But when portrayed as something that he is not (animalistic) it's fine??? His self - expression is chastised, and the racist impression dignified, by your standards.
"And any time someone with common sense points out that athletes are making fools of themselves and feeding negative stereotypes, he or she is shouted down as a sellout, racist or out of touch."
You are a sellout and you are out of touch when you have no common sense when it comes to what racism is, where it began and where it lies today. If you did Mr. Whitlock, you would realize that it hasn't gone anywhere. And without education you will put yourself, others like you, and those who come after you at risk for violence. "We" are not in a state of confusion. You are. So before you defend racism - be it, direct or indirect, and misguided thoughts that run deep within the minds of the ignorant, you need to educate yourself on history and then take a stance, rather than talk loosely while in the midst of your confusion.
Until then,
Tamara Shelly
"The Queen of all Suits"
Caiz Communications & Consulting"...life is but a dream."
