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LeBron Kong Attacks!
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Posted By:
Tai at 11/15/2008 10:17:21 AM
Comment:
Outside of this, one has to truly wonder what Sick Disease has infested the minds of some young Black men who hate their own Blackness so much they are driven seek out and marry the very same children whose forefathers beat, raped, burned, tortured, mutilated, and lynched their Black ancestors.
For Every Black who has forgotten their history in this country, use caution when viewing the websites below as the graphics are not for the faint hearted!
http://mtwsfh.blogspot.com/2008_02_08_archive.html
http://www.zimbio.com/Public+Enemy/articles/374/Terrorism+America+Nothing+New+Blacks+Afrikans
http://www.withoutsanctuary.org/main.html
http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/african/2000/lynching.htm -
Posted By:
Tai at 11/15/2008 10:10:04 AM
Comment:
Outside of this, one has to truly wonder what Sick Disease has infested the minds of some young Black men who hate their own Blackness so much they are driven seek out and marry the very same children whose forefathers beat, raped, burned, tortured, mutilated, and lynched their Black ancestors.
For Every Black who has forgotten their history in this country, use caution when viewing the websites below as the graphics are not for the faint hearted!
http://mtwsfh.blogspot.com/2008_02_08_archive.html
http://www.zimbio.com/Public+Enemy/articles/374/Terrorism+America+Nothing+New+Blacks+Afrikans
http://www.withoutsanctuary.org/main.html
http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/african/2000/lynching.htm -
Posted By:
Tai at 11/15/2008 10:09:37 AM
Comment:
As long as those in charge continue to portray to the world the Black man with white woman....Its a form of brainwash from the Willie Lynch Days...To Divide is to Conquer. They accomplished this in early American history by lynching most Black Men, and raping Black women. In mid American History they accomplished this feat by oppressing Blacks (giving Black households who lacked Black males welfare/gov't assistance etc, then portraying black men pimping their Black women in Hollywood movies, followed by a period of hiring the majority of Black women as opposed to hiring Black males). Thereby elevating Black women over Black men knowing this would inevitably lead to dissention in Black relationships, within Black households, and the inevitable dissolution of the Black family. If one looks at current statistics, you will find a singular consecutive connection to the Willie Lynch letter days.
Historically proven divisive tactics validates the destruction of the Black family today as evidenced by Black males unemployed and in Jail, Black females employed and in college, Black female single run households etc.etc...and the cycle continues!! And lo and behold, in 2008, you have the media daily portraying...Not Black men with their Black Woman, but Black Men with White women. "To Divide and Conquer" As long as those running the mainstream powerhouses in the U.S. continue these age-old tactics, Black folk as a whole will never unify, for to consolidate and unify means to Rise to Power!!! And what a powerful force Blacks would be if they were allowed to unify as a people, to unify as One! because God forbid that their historical accomplishments should be read about in school books or be made known to the World, and God forbid if Blacks should one day Rise to such Soaring Heights to become a Great Nation even more powerful than their Egyptian relatives!!! However, as many Blacks understand, an occurrence like this must be prevented and stopped at all cost, irregardless of the tactics used! -
Posted By:
Tai at 11/15/2008 10:08:47 AM
Comment:
I guess some Black men are just as dumb creatures they are portrayed as. One has to wonder why Lebron James who is already making millions would consent to pose for this image. You really have to wonder about the intelligence or "lack of" of many black men!!
Also, you have to look at the names of people behind these articles and behind the media who continue to portray Black men with white woman as the norm rather than the 1% of the population they actually make up. The majority of Black men living in America are with their own race of people. The majority of Black women living in America are with their own race as evidenced in most Black communities within the U.S. Why the "Jews" behind the media and many of these magazine articles would rather portray 1% of mixed marriages/relationships as the norm rather than portray the actual majority of Black on Black marriages/relationships that's norm as the norm should not be that difficult for the average intelligent mind to figure out!!! -
Posted By:
Tai at 11/15/2008 10:06:01 AM
Comment:
Its a typical Image of "Beauty and the Beast" The same image once brought to the public during the lynching of the Black man in American history. The Black man portrayed as the "Beast, the Rapist, the Animal, and the white woman as the frail helpless victim. The same image can be found upon Googling "Lynching's of Blacks" -
Posted By:
IanJ at 04/04/2008 2:47:38 PM
Comment:
The sad part about all this is that no one seems to be commenting on why LeBron himself posed for it. Our great psychological minds, regardless of race, need to address that. Seems as though we know why Vogue asked for it. Why did LeBron do it? This is not about LeBron the person, this is about where we lost a generation while we slept. -
Posted By:
Gleslie at 04/02/2008 10:08:31 PM
Comment:
The problem with Black sexuality, as illustrated by Vogue magazine, is that they want to illustrate to their audience that Black men are in the extremes. There is no middle ground for Black male sexuality, they're either Mandingos or hardcore queens. Name the last time you saw a nuturing relationship for a Balck man and woman portrayed positively in the White media. I would wager that you would be hard pressed to name a nuturing relationshipwith the two most positive Black male entertainers; Denzel Washington and Will Smith, unless of course it's with a white woman. -
Posted By:
Field at 04/02/2008 5:51:30 AM
Comment:
"We fetishize the intentions in America," said Goff. "Who cares whether Vogue intended to cause harm?" The point is -- they did.
We should always care what the intention of an agent was as that is the only thing any human being can truly be held to account for. If we forget this fundamental ethical truth and hold people responsible for the consequences of their actions regardless of their intention we end up in the hopeless and perverse position where the only person we can hold responsible for all the good and bad in the world is the first human being.
Vogue's cover may have caused you offence, but if they genuinely did not intend to do so you should respect that. If not, you may as well blame Ghandi for his own assassination. -
Posted By:
Princessxblessing at 04/02/2008 1:18:56 AM
Comment:
you mean Lebanon James? -
Posted By:
2234 at 04/01/2008 4:04:48 PM
Comment:
The image on the magazine cover really hurts me. I don't know how to explain it.
I'm a white female, approaching middle age, lived my whole life in the South. I participated for a few years in my institution's academic discussion on race. We viewed a film called "Ethnic Notions" and it made some people cry.
Am I more sensitive because I have had some training in how to identify insidious negative portrayals of blacks? The film's primary argument was that the images are so deeply ingrained in our psyches [and still around us though more subtle] that we don't question their power. I'm supposed to believe that intellectuals and artists in the "fashion" industry are too sophisticated not to understand the implications of this photo. Why don't I believe that?
The accusation against those of us who are bothered by the photo seems to be that we've come a long way and this is an ironic spoof on an old stereotype that no longer holds among "smart" people and if we don't get that then we're "hung up" on race.
So why does this bother me? What makes me feel on some deep level that the image is negative? -
Posted By:
O.G. Fred Mack at 04/01/2008 3:39:32 PM
Comment:
It is incredible, that after all the years that we black, male professionals have struggled to create opportunities for ourselves, our primary adversary is, allegedly, black people. It is truly sad that - in keeping with the views of bigots outside our culture - Mr. James is compared to a fictional ape, as opposed to being recognized for the professional athlete and entertainer that he is. Furthermore, this sick gambit can only work if Ms. Bundchen's nationality is ignored, which it was. This is obviously a case of "the crabs in the barrel" attempting to have an influence on Mr. James and I sincerely hope that he is strong enough in himself to put such talk in the trash can of his memories.
ogfm -
Posted By:
Impartial observer at 03/31/2008 5:36:17 PM
Comment:
Okay now you may not agree with this, but I'm writing it anyway.
The fact that you look at a tall well built man with his game face on and see a gorilla! says more about you than it does about him. How dare you hold his fame against him and vilify him for taking a photograph. Gisele isn't trying to get away in fact she has a huge smile on her face, and although Lebron's expression is intense, there is no malice in his eyes.
Now I have seen all sorts of pictures pertaining to this matter including world war 2 propaganda and I must say that this is ridiculous, it's political correctness gone mad.
Perhaps if Lebron had stabbed Gisele and her boyfriend to death ala OJ, the public opinion of the black community would be right behind him. Unfair? I think not.
I read an article which suggested a handbook that specified all of the things that would potentially anger a black person, now this is a sad state of affairs that such a thing could be needed, but you know what I think it's a good idea, that way there will be no more inane curve balls.
While I am here I might as well talk about a subject close to my heart, why is it that when a person with dark skin speaks standard english and has a good education that they are considered sell outs and told that they are acting white?
With this kind of attitude young people are scared of doing things to make their lives better because of what others will say about them.
Also why is it alright for black people to laugh at their foibles but not for a white person to laugh?
There are other races you know everything is not black and white and race relations will never improve until that chip is surgically removed from the national shoulder.
Oh and by the way Obama may have dark skin but he has no experience, good judgement comes from experience. If he were white or asian,indian, mexican or any other race and had the same credentials, would you still be behind him?
In case you're wondering I am not white and I'm not acting white, my skin is darker than Obama's and I'm not scared to speak my mind. I went to college and I've travelled all over Europe and I have to say that they don't have the same problem over there.
So do yourself and the rest of us a favor and get a grip and get over yourselves please. -
Posted By:
ishablack at 03/31/2008 2:35:40 PM
Comment:
i get the point! but pick your battles! this one I dont know if its worth the fight when 1.5 million brothers are in prison and Darfur; Katrina and Institutional racism! Just this is a bother -
Posted By:
eduauthor at 03/31/2008 12:53:34 PM
Comment:
My sentiments exactly, even before I read this article -
Posted By:
vbrogdon at 03/31/2008 8:33:20 AM
Comment:
The first black man ever pictured on this magazine's cover and this is the best they came up with ? Vogue cause a lot of harm whether it was their intend or not! This makes me sick to look at! Virginia -
Posted By:
merzydoats at 03/31/2008 8:32:26 AM
Comment:
Why is there an assumption that LeBron is so stupid that he didn't consider the implications of the photo, which he says he signed off on? If anyone controls his image, it is LeBron James. And he is generally known, except among those of us who are Wizards fans and haven't forgiven him yet for...(sorry), as one of the nicest guys in basketball. Granted, there is a visceral reaction to the photo, however, don't we have to stop and think for a moment? LeBron has been black all his life, he certainly has been exposed to King Kong, and he liked the photo anyway. O amateur psychiatrists among us, what does that mean? -
Posted By:
kunzi at 03/31/2008 6:14:46 AM
Comment:
Lebron had to know that picture could be seen as offensive, could it be that he just didnt care? could it be that he is just clueless? he wore a Yankee baseball hat at a cleveland home game once after all. -
Posted By:
ThatBlackGuy at 03/30/2008 11:52:44 PM
Comment:
It's a psychological game and we are losing. As black men we suffer from bad brand management. They know, I know and you know there are three states a regular black man can take in the media. 1) Beast - very popular guy until you have to interact with him in "real" life 2) Married - Very likable in the work place "He got kids to take care of and a wife at home" 3) Effeminate - safe friendly smiley flamboyant all around " we should invite him and his partner to the dinner party type." Me I'm just a black guy some what educated, bad credit, good job, 34, not married, why? I have kids, 34 and I still like real Hip-Hop, rims and my hood. Which once you make corporate are things your to distance yourself from to prove yourself worthy. I said somewhat educated hope I hit at least a one or two valid points.
- That Black Guy -
Posted By:
cadbury at 03/30/2008 9:07:26 PM
Comment:
I've already commented on this. Not sure why my comment doesn't appear. I responded to the notion that basically everybody knows that King Kong symbolized "aggressive black male sexuality". Please. Sez who? That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard. There are plenty of things to critique in that magazine cover; but spare us the over-the-top King Kong nonsense. -
Posted By:
butta at 03/30/2008 1:47:25 PM
Comment:
Comparing Lebron to King Kong? OUCH! As an African-American male I have to admit I just saw Lebron and Giselle. I do think that sometimes we do a little too much searching for a bigot behind every tree. -
Posted By:
blklykme at 03/30/2008 8:34:45 AM
Comment:
I think you're reading entirely too much into this cover. The photo spread in the magazine contrast willowy models with top athletes. There are a set of photos with 6'4 300lb Jared Rome, discus world champ, where he is attempting to throw the model like a discus but it doesn't make a statement about violence toward women. Oh, and the "white" model that was paired with LeBron is actually Brazilian, which may not make a difference to you but I'm quite sure for most of the white women viewing the cover, and the are the target demographic group, it is different then seeing him next to Heidi Klum or Kate Moss. -
Posted By:
blklykme at 03/30/2008 8:30:54 AM
Comment:
I think you're reading entirely too much into this cover. The photo spread in the magazine contrast willowy models with top athletes. There are a set of photos with Jared Rome, discus world champ, where he is attempting to throw the model like a discus but it doesn't make a statement about violence toward women. Oh, and the "white" model that was paired with LeBron is actually Brazilian, which may not make a difference to you but I'm quite sure for most of the white women viewing the cover, and the are the target demographic group, it is different then seeing him next to Heidi Klum or Kate Moss. -
Posted By:
Deborah G. Moses-Sanks at 03/30/2008 3:50:48 AM
Comment:
The cover is racist and does portray Black males as aminals which benefits whites: turns white women on sexually and keeps Blacks in general in postion of powerlesnes.Just like in the film, Black was evetually destroyed. -
Posted By:
charleshsmith3 at 03/29/2008 9:35:09 PM
Comment:
Well, this says it all...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/28/uncovered-possible-inspi_n_93944.html -
Posted By:
samuelt at 03/29/2008 6:29:29 PM
Comment:
test -
Posted By:
anthonyaustin at 03/29/2008 1:33:57 PM
Comment:
As a Black man who loves LeBron my comment is shame on Lebron. Voge is only interested in getting paid. Lebron, you need to be more protective of your image. The best photos are burried inside the magazine. Make your people earn their keep. -
Posted By:
2heartbeats at 03/29/2008 10:41:17 AM
Comment:
I believe that since black men have been degraded for so long they feel like taking something from the white man that is precious to them, their daughters, and in essence daring them to do anything about it. -
Posted By:
A. Baraka Scott at 03/29/2008 9:54:19 AM
Comment:
LeBron needs to stop contributing to the perpetuation of racial stereotypes in American and worldwide media. First he begged off on signing a Darfur petition now this?
What does it matter if the photographer, editor, publisher or even the milk man feigns ignorance regarding the history and effects of racist images?
If folk like LeBron and Halle Berry would stop play The Buck, The Tragic Mullato, The Mammie, The Coon, The Tom and The Mystical Negro, Vogue and Holywood and everyone else with a hidden agenda of insensitivity or animus would have to dig in the vaults for one of these images.
Lets see Vogue license a still from "Birth of A Nation" on its next "diversity" cover!
I know principled people who will not purchase a Mercedes Benz or a BMW because of the events of the WWII holocaust.
African-Americans need to make a principled stand against the for profit lynching of its images and likeness or suck it up and let people continue to spit in their collective face and smile.
Don't sweat Vogue, LeBron is the chief offender because he allowed himself to be used like a multi-million dollar pawn. The fact that he didn't know any better and shut that photo down is an indictment of a community that has not taught its children about its history.
What is the saying about historical ignorance and doomed repitition??? -
Posted By:
DrewReason at 03/29/2008 3:58:33 AM
Comment:
the title of this article should be outlawed -
Posted By:
twobits at 03/28/2008 4:58:04 PM
Comment:
Thanks for commenting on this lazy and ignorant Vogue cover. It really is the Wild Black Buck and the Delicate, Effervescent White Lady! Get Donald Bogle to write and art direct the next Vogue issue we can call it: BOGUE. That would be change things up. -
Posted By:
buyrace at 03/28/2008 3:23:56 PM
Comment:
How you perceive it versus how it was intended to be seen are responsible factors to calculate before you fan the flames of race!!
buyrace -
Posted By:
warton at 03/28/2008 3:12:45 PM
Comment:
While it is important to understand the history of images, you have run into a poitical problem. Would you prefer 'subvertiing' stereotypes by presenting Lebron as an unagressive and asexual black man? That also has historical and political baggage. Lebron enjoyed the cover, so I do not see the need to "instruct" him that he should feel offended -
Posted By:
Genna at 03/28/2008 1:49:53 PM
Comment:
Agreed. My problem with stereotypes is that some people fall into them and believe that shorthand method of assumption works. If Vogue increased the number of Black men of different types, they could get away with the ape and the flame because they do exist in the Black community. But if they only show America and the world the stereotypes, they are not respecting what the community is. Diversity only works when people can appreciate the range in our community. -
Posted By:
cadbury at 03/28/2008 12:49:57 PM
Comment:
I have no problem with the author's discomfort and criticism of this cover. But the following is over the the top: "Had they never seen the seven movies based on the giant ape from Skull Island? Did they not know those films were about aggressive black male sexuality..." Seriously? King Kong was about aggressive black male sexuality? Where is this coming from? This is the kind of idea/statement that leads to charges of "over-sensitivity". -
Posted By:
buyrace at 03/28/2008 11:51:40 AM
Comment:
this picture is simply a Rorschach Test.
all of you that opine on this photo are expressing how it is that you see the world around you. you're finding what it is that you're looking for.
buyrace -
Posted By:
buyrace at 03/28/2008 11:47:34 AM
Comment:
dasd -
Posted By:
lmurray81 at 03/28/2008 9:57:00 AM
Comment:
Something didn't sit right in my stomach and head when I first saw this issue on a Newstand on the Lexington Avenue subway line. When my housemate spread that same issue across our coffee table, I looked at the picture and quickly turned my head -- it offended me but for some reason, I couldn't pinpoint it, then you said it and I said, "ah ha," that's what it is. Though some may chuck the "King Kong" picture of LeBron as art -- it can never be art when racism still permeates throughout every insitution America, the black community is still chronically disenfranchise and that deep tissue racism of skin color, hair texture, speaking white and acting black manifest in our everyday lives.
Leslie Ann Murray -
Posted By:
lmurray81 at 03/28/2008 9:51:59 AM
Comment:
Something didn't sit right in my stomach and head when I first saw this issue on a Newstand on the Lexington Avenue subway line. When my housemate spread the issue across the coffee table, I looked at the picture and quickly turned my head -- it offended me but for some reason, I couldn't pinpoint it, then you said it and I said, ah ha, that's what it is. It's unfortunate that the black community at large doesn't hold people accountable to these reprehensible images and the powers that be chuck it up to "art." -
Posted By:
ch555x at 03/28/2008 9:05:58 AM
Comment:
silly...America is still stuck in their "glorious" past. -
Posted By:
SilenceISGolden at 03/28/2008 8:45:19 AM
Comment:
I think this is a battle for another day. I initially thought Lebron should be in a suit or something trendy. However, he is promoting his clothing line (all business). In an age where Paris Hilton and Tyler Perry exploit themselves for economical benefit, I think Lebron's picture is tame. Just think how crazy America???s reaction would have been if they simulated other famous Leibovitz poses like the John Lennon/Yoko Ono nude pose.
Regardless of their race or country of origin, the controversy should be about how awkward the two of them look together. I've seen more natural poses during the early stages of America's Next Top Model. -
Posted By:
lisalisa at 03/28/2008 8:05:50 AM
Comment:
Sigh. Why did you buy it? -
Posted By:
Elliemae at 03/28/2008 2:02:13 AM
Comment:
I'VE TRIED TWICE TO ENTER A COMMENT. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
ELLIEMAE -
Posted By:
Elliemae at 03/28/2008 1:55:08 AM
Comment:
This article is very necessary and very revealing and I am very grateful for the quotes from Dr. Goff. However, obviously Ms. Andrews has not seen Vogue recently or she would not be able to say that the magazine "seemed to be doing pretty decent when it came to celebrataing actual diversity" simply because it has had Jennifer Holliday on the cover. A review of the magazine in the recent past will reveal that black models have been disappearing from its pages rapidly -- just as they have been disappearing from the runways of most major designers. This cover reflects a complete insensitivity to the racial situation in the U.S. on the part of the photographer, the publisher, and the subject of the photo. The fact that any black man would try to justify the cover image by saying that James "is a beast" is very disheartening and helps make it clear why black people are in the conditionwe are today. Obviously many of our people have no sense of history and no sense of racial pride. Blacks would do well to boycott Vogue, and someone should inform LeBron James that there are some things that money shouldn't buy. It's wake-up time again! -
Posted By:
Elliemae at 03/28/2008 12:37:09 AM
Comment:
While Vogue uses a photo of LeBron James on its cover to perpetuate the worst black male/white female stereotypes, black models disappear from its inside pages. Someone needs to educate young James what you do and what you don't do for money. -
Posted By:
alfod at 03/28/2008 12:35:54 AM
Comment:
I first caught glimpse of the cover in the grocery store and thought it looked very weird and embarrasing, like you're being caught looking at porn. My 1st thought was also King KKng or a bad 30s Tarzan film. But then again, every time Vogue does an African photo shoot, it always some colonialist yearning on some safari with only white models where the only blacks are Masai villagers. -
Posted By:
Elliemae at 03/28/2008 12:34:01 AM
Comment:
While Vogue puts crude stereortypes on its cover, black models disappear from its fashion pages. And someone needs to educate young LeBron about what you do and what you don't do for money. The miseducation of the black athlete is hurting us all. Elliemae -
Posted By:
mwuagi at 03/28/2008 12:13:08 AM
Comment:
You must be trippin'... Plain and simple... Some people will try to find the negative in anything... Get over it. -
Posted By:
jr577 at 03/27/2008 8:15:00 PM
Comment:
What bothers me about this whole discussion is that people are immediately willing to focus on the racial connotations of this image but no one seems to care to address the sexist attitudes it also conveys. A large, powerful man holding a waifish woman on his arm like a possession. That's sexist to me. -
Posted By:
pigeon at 03/27/2008 7:38:10 PM
Comment:
Where you see a reinforcement of stereotype I see a multi-millionaire icon saying "I've got the world by the short hairs. Deal with it." Unlax. We'll all get past it -
Posted By:
DrewReason at 03/27/2008 6:58:54 PM
Comment:
I didn't see anything wrong with it when I first saw the issue's cover. I TOTALLY disagree with the suggestion that King Kong can be compared to black men, or LeBron James. That is outrageous and I agree with Vogue ---"hypersensitive."
Regarding the photographers responsible for the image: They are artists, and their job is to sell, whether they are selling fantasies or nightmares is up to the consumer to decide.
It is interesting that LeBron James himself was not attacked for participating in the photo. -
Posted By:
Vashti at 03/27/2008 6:01:11 PM
Comment:
"Why it still hurts to see a white woman draped across a teeth-baring black man."
Seriously. We need to get over this black-man-with-a-white-woman nonsense and get on with our lives. Men in general like to be seen as strong and powerful -King Kong? I bet most black brothers won't find anything wrong with that cover. Wiait a minute ---black men don't clutter their lives with nonsense like Vogue and People magazine.
Could we just stick to the real issues here? -
Posted By:
Vondarrien at 03/27/2008 5:52:17 PM
Comment:
Let me guess???you were offended by the Terrell Owens Monday Night Football skit a few years ago with ol' girl from Desperate Housewives.
I think you're making a big deal of nothin'.
Had I seen the cover before hearing about the controversy, I'd have never made the King Kong assumption.
If you really try hard enough, you can see racist/racial overtones in just about anything. My advice to you is to stop lookin' so hard.
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