Discussion: Missouri Editor Says This Ferguson Cartoon Was Not Intended To Be Racist

TPM Article Topics
1

Discussion for article #226731

2

I’ve despised Gary McCoy from the first cartoon of his I ever saw. You will never see a more despicable racist asshole get more print than this prick.

25 Likes
3

I’m probably going to get my replies lit up for saying this, but I can honestly see how this could have not been intended to be racist. There is a fine line between criticizing the looters and criticizing the protesters at large, which many people (especially conservatives) walk somewhere between “sloppily” and “not even attempting to.”

That said, if the only thing you know about the protesters is that there was some looting, and that’s all you focus on… well… there’s a good chance you’re racist, given it just confirms your predispositions about large groups of black people.

4 Likes
4

Sure it is not racist. Approved by the Missouri Rodeo Clowns Association.

12 Likes
5

“Big screen TVs” has long since been used in racist jokes against African Americans, specifically in reference to so-called “welfare queens”. It’s in the same category as “Cadillacs with shiny rims”, “ghetto blasters” and “gold teeth”. The cartoonist knows exactly what he’s doing. It’s pure, unfiltered dog-whistle racism at it’s absolute finest.

21 Likes
6

There is nothing in that piece of trash that even begins to imply there are peaceful protesters in Ferguson, much less that they might have a reason to protest. Zero zip nada nuttin’. There’s nothing there but stereotypes. So bugger the “intent.” That’s racist period.

21 Likes
7

I knew a fucking racist asshole who had a t-shirt saying something like ‘I survived Hurricane Katrina and all I got was this lousy plasma TV’. SSDD. (Same shit different day)

3 Likes
8

Still up at Townhall, I see.

An unarmed kid was gunned down, and the wounds are raw. Does this moron think that a cartoon like this is going to help the situation in Ferguson?

Provocative? No one needs that kind of provocation right now.

“I’m sorry if anyone was offended.” (ETA - that would be his non-apology if he gave one at all.)

Good grief.

8 Likes
9

I looked up the cartoonists other work, and it’s all pretty much what you’d expect to see after just seeing this one example.

8 Likes
10

We can’t know the intent, we can only see what’s there on the page. But if this was honestly not intended to be racist, if it really was meant to criticize just people who engage in violence or looting, it’s a dismayingly clumsy effort. A decent editorial cartoonist can convey very complex ideas in visual terms, and the idea “some naughty rioters are distracting from the peaceful protesters’ message” wouldn’t be that much of a challenge. I just don’t see that attempt being made here.

ETA nothing personal, right? If we couldn’t discuss things and have a respectful back-and-forth here how much fun would it be?

2 Likes
11

“Not in intent” tells me everything I need to know about this racist asshole. He doesn’t even realize it … well that’s if you buy his “intent” line. (And I don’t.)

3 Likes
12

Where are the " peaceful " protesters in the cartoon ?

6 Likes
13

Not terribly surprised by that, not surprised at all.

14

Hmmm, if it was “not in intent” to be racist, why are all the “looters” in the cartoon Black? Everyone in Ferguson is not black. All of the protestors are not black. Almost none of the police are black. Very few of the Media are black. None of the City Council are black.
If you can’t see what is right in front of your eyes. You are part of the problem.

3 Likes
15

Plasma tv? Panasonic and Samsung don’t even make them anymore. Is it asking too much for racists to at least try to remain au courant?

7 Likes
16

Another example of what Jon Stewart says. Everybody knows that racism is bad. They just don;t know what it is.

2 Likes
17

I especially like the turned-around R in BURN, suggesting the protesters are too illiterate to be able to write the alphabet properly. But it’s not racist, no.

12 Likes
18

Like my 80 year old uncle, who often says shit like, “I don’t mind n****** so long as they know their place.” He’s not a racist either, just ask him.

7 Likes
19

Racist? Oh my stars! Perish the thought!

20

Ahhhhhhhhh

He must have run out of caucasian skin tone paint…

2 Likes