I heard about protestors on the news and then saw the Post cartoon you are talking about. It is very insulting and racist! I feel sad and angry that they had to resort to something like that. I know Rupert Murdoch is the owner of the Post and he has a history of being "Racist". I can't stand him or Fox news. I applaud you for your letter to the editor and know that the majority of us share your views. The Post needs to receive a backlash for this nonsense. A boycott is definitely called for. Thank you for sharing, informing and for especially for standing up! - Love, Angie

Well said. You are a wonderful humanitarian and intellect. You are a true voice of the people and can speak for me anytime.

Love Jackie

JL, YOU SAID THAT MY BROTHA!

I just had to post a thank you Mr. Legend. Your open letter captured perfectly every thought and feeling I too have of the New York Post's poor taste in humor. I firmly agree that advertisers and consumers must hold them accountable for their complete lack of responsible journalism.

May God Bless You and our President.

Regards,
MissM

John thank you so much for your letter. I am so glad that someone in your position spoke up about the Posts sorry excuse.

You said it all! They knew it wasn't right! Just proves that even some educated people are still IGNORANT! Shame on them! I back you 100% percent. We stand behind you and the President! Protest.. hurt in the pocket book!

What I must say is, I'm so happy to have you speak out. I was quite disturbed by that also.
This blog completely spoke the exact words I thought.

Thanks John Legend.
You are truely amazing.

Thank you sir.

My apologies for knowing nothing of you prior to reading your response to the now notorious Post cartoon. The explanation for my ignorance is a long story ... and entirely irrelevant to the purpose of this note.

My purpose is simple:

Thank you for your extraordinarily articulate condemation of this cartoon.

Shand

Western Canada

A Half-assed, apology, that is. Basically the Post explained their lack of culpability, and included that damned line I ALWAYS hate whenever I hear a public apology: "IF IT OFFENDED YOU, (we) apologize."

IF???

Public apologies should be across the board. NOT just to those whom it offended.

Even if it DIDN'T offend someone, THEY should be apologized to as well!

Because by not apologizing to those who took NO offense by the action in question, said action will be eternally excused.

Another case in point was when Justin Timberlake apologized for his part in the infamous 'wardrobe malfuncion'. He said to the public something like: "if it offended you, I apologize."

No, that's not acceptable. You should apologize. Period. And NOT just to those who were offended by it. To everyone. Because if you direct your apology ONLY to those who were offended by an action, it creates an atmosphere that THEY are the ones at fault, for having been so sensitive as to have been offended.

Anyway, here's a copy of the NY Post's quite defensive apology:

"Wednesday's Page Six cartoon - caricaturing Monday's police shooting of a chimpanzee in Connecticut - has created considerable controversy.

It shows two police officers standing over the chimp's body: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill," one officer says.

It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill.

Period.

But it has been taken as something else - as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism.

This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize.

However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past - and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback.

To them, no apology is due.

Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon - even as the opportunists seek to make it something else."

John. Just saw your reply on CNN. Thought you nailed it - and without stooping to the reckless ugliness the cartoonist obviously deserved. I guess our President has reminded us all that taking the higher ground beats taking 'the bait' every time. Nicely done, John. Oh - and have a great time visiting our here...

Brad Isaacs
Los Angeles

P.S. Your Sunday Lincoln Memorial performance with James Taylor sent shivers up the ol' spine. The whole concert was beautiful. And how smart is our President to have Garth Brooks - arguably the only performer whose fan base did not vote Democratic - sing those three songs. C'mon, Garth Brooks doing the Animal House version of 'Shout'... now that's brillliant.

P.P.S. The only downside to losing Bush is that it will probably be the last opportunity in our lifetime to say with absolute certainty that we're acutally smarter than the president. But I think we can live with that. You take care...

Dear John:
The only reason I logged on to your site is to say "Thank you!" As Dr. King said, "all it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing." I realize that you have taken a profound risk in your career in the midst of those who hide under the guise of "artistic license." You have named evil for what it is--evil. In the midst of legitimate differences of opinions in our nation as we seek to dialogue in the midst of disagreement there are times that we must say, "Enough." Thank you for living what I presume to be what you believe. I am a white pastor and am grateful for your voice of courage.
In Christ's Peace, Ruth

for putting to word what my mouth cannot express...

Whatever happened to respect for the President? What happened to the days when just being in that Office commanded respect?

I understand the Office took plenty of respect hits from our last President but there is still a level of respect due to the Office and the man who holds it.

As an African American, I found the shooting of the chimpanzee by police officers especially offensive given the state of poor relations between the African American community and law enforcement. The implication that it takes police officers to shoot African American men to stop them is vile.

As a die-hard Republican, I disagree with most of the Economic Recovery legislation since it seems like nothing but a huge pile of socialism wrapped around a few useful programs for the average working person. However, I would never use such a historically racially charge symbol and violence to express my discontent.

What was even more insulting was that “apology” the NY Post printed. They can keep their apology because what they did was unacceptable.

I am all for freedom of speech and rhetoric to express discontent with the Economic Recovery legislation but I am more into respect for the President, the office of the Presidency and racial tolerance.

Thank you for your insightful and respectful letter to the Editor, Mr. Legend.

Where did your education system fail you. Perhaps you missed the point that the president can't write a bill, he can only sign or veto it. So where did you get the idea that it had anything to do with Obama (Whom I support). Ignorent idiots like you unravel the work of years of people fighting opression by making the black comminuty look like an ignorant bunch of whiners.

You should print an apology in your blog acknowledging that this letter was ignorant, offensive and racist and should not have been printed.

Hey Mr. Legend

I just joined your blog... I'm a 31 yo male from BK, NY. lolol Just thought you wanted to know that. Keep up the good work pop!

this is what I emailed to the editor.....

If you didn't use that caption you would not be under all this racism accusations.

Someone was really injured by the chimp, I'm pretty sure that your paper covered the story but now all the attention is away from the women that was brutally beaten. She has lost her eyes nose and other body parts. Where is the sympathy and respect for the victim and the owner who had to beat the chimp off her best friend.

This was in very bad taste. I will NEVER buy your paper again.

The front page of your paper says 2.5 million readers everyday or something like that... it will drop significantly.

You have young inquisitive readers who will wonder why you used that caption and someone will explain to them the history behind the African American being called a monkey.
Indirectly your still promoting racism during these trying times when everyone needs to work together and become one.
The stimulus plan was created for individuals like your self and others to keep their job and the economy on track
I pray that the new generation is not taught racism from the shameful closet racist.

Bravo!!

This is absolutely ridiculous. If John is really offended by this silly little cartoon, I just dont get it. As a black man, I do not find this offensive and if I am correct, President Obama did not write the stimulous bill, Nancy Pelosi and the rest of congress did. It is an absolute stretch to say the Post was making a racist comparison between a chimp and the president but I guess even though we have put a black man in the "white" house, we just can't get past the race baiting from the likes of Sharpton, Jackson and now Legend. Mr. Legend, I like your music but you are way off base on this one!

Your letter renewed my admiration for you.

I love the letter, although I wish it wasn't necessary.

Hey John,

How nice that you're standing up for civil discourse in the public arena.

For a moment, let's put aside the fact that the cartoon was clearly lampooning Congresscritters.

Since liberals have spent the last 8 years calling GWBush "McChimpy", and pasting his face
on the bodies of chimpanzees, and I know you want to be evenhanded about this ...

Please show us the letters you've written defending Bush against all this low-class,
vulgar ridicule and abuse, that is now being inherited by Obama.

----

Maybe one day all the race-obsessed people out there will stop viewing the whole world
through the lens of their racist mindset. That would be great, wouldn't it? Then they might
be able to look at a POLITICAL cartoon, and see the POLITICAL humor involved there.

You know, instead of them making up stupid fantastic racist stories about it.

P.S.The slimeball Al Sharpton is a racist Jew-hater and should be in jail for the Tawana Brawley affair.

You can just Google Tawana Brawley if you don't know who she is, or what happened then.

----

Thank you for speaking out against this very offensive cartoon. It seems your latest blog has brought quite a few new visitors to your site with many varying opinions, some of which are quite puzzling to me. I am Caucasian and from the South and, I agree, the meaning behind that disgusting Post cartoon was obvious and apparent and it sickens me. As an American, it embarrasses me to see the use of free speech perverted in such a manner.

Our President Obama deserves more respect than that. (Honestly, even if he was not our president he deserves more respect). Certainly, the press should hold him accountable to the people that elected him but this is definitely not an acceptable method of doing so.

I am glad you are boycotting the Post. Many artists today seem to spend more time being seen than being heard. I admire the involvement you have taken in politics and human rights issues, especially with the Show Me Campaign.

by the content of your posts.....

On your first post-
Your ignorance was evident from the start. I really feel sorry for you. You are totally oblivious of the fact that your comments are racist. I implore you to print your comments and give the print-out to one of your African-American friends (or co-workers) without telling them that you wrote it. Have them read it and give you their opinion. I’m sure you’d be shocked to hear their response. Just for the record, I don’t follow anyone blindly. Like you, I stand behind everything I post. That is why I’m having a problem understanding why you and a few others have found it necessary to go through the trouble of signing up as a member of this website just to post on the blog page. Why has John’s letter offended you so? He is entitled to write whatever he likes, right?....Or is that entitlement only reserved for a privileged few?

On your second post-
Tisk tisk tisk....Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive! There you have it! It didn’t take very long for your true feelings to come to the surface. In his letter, John made no reference to civil rights. You may want to read it again. This time use your thesaurus and/or dictionary. The very fact that you made all of those comparisons and mentioned all of those things in your response to other bloggers’ comments proves that racism is very much alive in America today!! It’s alive, but it has been disguised! I’m sorry you’ve had such a hard time, I paid for my own education, my own car (I walked when I couldn’t afford gas), and I worked full time while carrying a full load of classes. Not one person on this blog has made any comment about anyone being white nor have they mentioned hating anyone. Hate, cracker nigger, spook, honkey...YOU introduced all of this in YOUR post. It seems that you have a lot of hostility for some reason. Your words are far more than just an angry response. It appears that you do have a deeper problem - denial. Could YOU be “whining” about being a victim of some form of racism yourself?...And to think, a few blogs earlier, you didn’t want us to “sweat the small stuff”... You should take your own advice.

I am well aware of the fact that President Obama did not write the bill. The idea that the cartoon had something to do with President Obama is derived from the fact that he signed the bill (you answered that question in your second sentence). If the bill does not result in economic recovery, President Obama, not all of the other members of congress who actually penned it, will be held accountable. That is where the connection is made.
As for your attempt to insult John’s intelligence, I think you should be asking yourself the question you posed to him. Your education system has obviously failed you. There are several misspelled words, grammatical errors, and misuse of punctuation in your comment. You also misspelled I-G-N-O-R-A-N-T.
BTW, nothing in John’s letter was ignorant, offensive, or racist. Please read it again.

There is only one thing that I can say about you. Stupid.

The only people who felt offended by the cartoon are people who did not understand what the cartoon signified. It's purpose was to compare a chimp who was recently shot by his owner and the author of the stimulus bill. Perhaps it's point was that the stimulus bill is so bad it could've been written by chimps. All of you who thought it was racist are mistaken. Those who protest are simply showing their ignorance of the situation. Jumping to conclusions only reinforces the double standard that it is ok for african americans to poke fun at other races, while other races may not poke fun at african americans without repurcussion. A few questions which illustrate my point are. Why is there a "United Negro College Fund" but no Caucasian College Fund? Why is there B.E.T. television network but no W.E.T network? Why is it ok for black comedians & entertainers to stereotype & degrade other races but when a caucasion does it he is labeled a racist like Don Imus. If you are an african american and this cartoon offends you then perhaps you think other races see you as a monkey. Perhaps this fuels your hate towards people who you think hate you, but in reality are only drawing a cartoon.

1) In my opinion, someone who did not know anything about the event would have no idea that the cartoon was alluding to the event that took place in Fairfield Country, Connecticut. It almost looks like it's happening on some random street corner in the picture. People should be able to get the message the author of a political cartoon or any kind of satire is trying to portray. If he was alluding to that incident, then it would be pretty important that people recognize that fact so that it would add some lightness, humor or familiarity to the cartoon. So Sean Delanos is still stupid and should still be fired anyway because he can't do his job.
2) If you they were referring to a group of people, i.e. the members of Congress, or an institution, why did the author choose to represent a group of people with one animal? Why did the police officer refer to "someone else" instead of "some other people?"
3) When Bush was referred to as a monkey it was because people thought he was stupid. When people refer to black people as monkeys, you don't know whether they are saying it because they believe, like many white supremist, that black people are subhuman and savage, or if they are judging you as an idividual. Bush is a flunky. Have you forgotten the Bushisms? I won't list his accomplishments, but I'm sure you realize Obama's not stupid. It's one thing to say that you don't agree with someone's ideas, but don't you think it's taking it a bit far to attribute that same stupidity to Obama? Especially considering he's only been in office for how long? How long was Bush in office before people started openly calling him an idiot? This country has a history of racism that has to be accounted for. There are still white people who refer to black people, regardless of who they are as individuals, monkeys. Maybe you don't know them but I do. That's what people are angry about.
4) Nobody looks at John Legend as some kind of political leader. Your the only idiot on here expecting him to be some kind of political/economic expert. You don't have to be a politician to have an opinion about something. That's the whole point of a democracy doofus. He's voicing his opinion and people are appreciative because most artists do exactly what you are advising him to do, which is chuck and jive and keep quiet. He's a repected musician and someone people look up to as a human being. So if anything people will take after him in that they aren't afraid to speak up.
You act like this situation is soooo complex. A major publication allowed a political cartoon that offended a hefty chunk of its consumers to be printed. That's all. What is there to "understand about the government?" What is your problem?

Oh yea, and this:
"I don't see this cartoon having any overtones of racism, and any highly educated and intelligent African-American (including President Obama himself) can tell you that."
This comment is tacky and presumptuous. It's a sign of folly and immaturity. You need to get yourself together and learn how to interact with people. You may not see any overtones of racism, but obviously many people do.

I saw the cartoon...and to justify that it was to mean something else is a joke. Do these people not have their work checked? Whoever is doing the overseeing should be fired. Granted cartoonist's are supposed to make fun and exploit certain features of famous people but depicting weapons and violence in their cartoons is going a little far. Thanks for raising your voice on this issue John, it was very well done! ;o)

If the real incident with that monkey attacking women They would have never printed such a image in any context But it happened and the Ny Post made the cartoon knowing full well the effect it would have and they already knew that they could hide behind what happened in real life.This is so malicious and transparent To make matters worst they post a apology a 13 year old would write and on top of that insult the american readers by telling them they need to only see as a cartoon Where in the hell do they get off telling us how to form a opinion about what we see.I am for free speech but to come out with that apology tells me exactly where they stand and what their intent was.

The NY POST is DEAD to me.

Thanks ludlowras for that handy list of advertisers.

A-

Most of the world are people of color and what The New York Post did is retarded AND UNFORGIVEABLE!! What the editors of the paper are really saying is that we ; are ALL apes?...NOT!! The New York Post should cease to exsist. as it is not a productive vehicle for information and non subjective opinions. With todays modern technologies, that's not a good thing. The Paper has messed up by exposing it's incompentancy by trying to attact their readers attention span and knowledge, like a jonkey on drugs...and by any means necessary!! ......Not good.,It's time to put this old horse out of it's misery!! ...........YES WE CAN!!!

John I hope you enjoyed the Grammys!

It is apparent that you are ignorant about the historical legacy of African Americans being labeled as monkeys and apes by plantation owners and throughout American history by those who had the power to re-write history and re-assign the culture and identity of Africans kidnapped by white landowners and brought to America for free labor. My people were dehumanized, not even thought significant to be included in the HUMAN RACE. Yes, we were historically called baboons and apes, and yes, historically black males have been killed unjustifiably by White police officers. So, yes, African Americans took offense to the NY Post's cartoon of two white officers discussing the stimulus package with gun in hand and implying that a chimpanzee had written the bill. First of all, we know a monkey is not running the nation, nor does a chimpanzee have the wherewithal to write legislation, so who else was the author of the cartoon making reference to, but President Obama?! Knowing that Black mles have often been called Apes and have historically been murdered by police officers, struck a chord of angst in the African American community.
Why do we have Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America? Because far too long African Americans could not gain access in predominately White colleges, and that is still the case today. Why did a Black man create B.E.T.? Well I am sure you can answer that yourself. Just sit down, flick on your TV and channel serf. Now ask yourself, how many persons of color did you see on any of those stations? How many persons of color did you see in any of those commercials. Now take a walk down mainstream America and go inside various companies and note how many persons you actually saw walking around those offices who were persons of color. Continue your walk down mainstream America, note the predominance of White Americans? Now when the Oscars come on television, note all the white faces in the audience. Note how many awards will be given to White actors and Actresses; and please don't say it's because there are few talented actors. Oh, and did you check out the Music Awards? There were Black musicians but the White musicians such as Justin Timberlake and the Jonas brothers actually dominated the original musician's music!! Justin Timberlake sang solo for the most part on Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" while Al Green practically sang backup to the song he's known for penning and singing! My point is, there is definitely a need for Blacks to create our own programming because if there was no BET there never would have been a Lil Wayne...or a John Legend. If there had been no HBCU's there would have never been a Martin Luther King. So before you get your drawers in a bunch, walk a day in my BLACK SKIN! Enuff said!!

So, I saw the cartoon before I came across your response, and I was just as outraged. I , too, decided to write them a letter about how ignorant the cartoon was. When I saw that you wrote them, also, I was ecstatic. As a celebrity, you have a voice that can be heard above the rest. The cartoon was reprehensible and beyond the realms of any permissible joke.

I'm a seventeen years old, and I go to NYU, and you truly are my hero. Not only is your music amazing, but you are so intelligent, active, caring and compassionate and you inspire me.

Has it not occured to you that this time around someone felt it was about time something was said. Did it occur to you then that since you were aware of all those attacks on BLACKS AND WHITES you should have said something to show your dissapointment and contribute a positive message to America like someone has just done? Has it occured to you that John is not attacking white people but the person who invented the cartoon? I hope soon it will occur to you that your blog is nothing but utterly rubbish. It's fine if you don't get my message but please make it a point to get the one from Hollis (it's good free education for someone like you).

'with the last President not being "you're" President and this one being "you're" President' WHO IN HER SOBER MIND WOULD HAVE STOOD BEHIND THAT ADMINISTRATION/PRESIDENT ANYWAY.

Im quite bewildered by the fact that the post decided to issue an apology only saying sorry to those who may have been offened by the cartoon. At the bare minimum the post should have been saavy enough to recognize the the distasteful nature of the cartoon in the 1st place. I guess had that been the case we wouldnt have this blog, now would we?

the post has always played second fiddle to the Daily News any way.. i mean you usually buy the post because there are no more Daily News papers.. oh well.. i sure hope the Daily News decides to put more papers in curculation.. print.. print.. print... i guess when ur running a distant 2nd you try extra hard to catch up, sometimes you manage to make some big blunders in doing so and here is that HUGE blunder that will put them under..

You can check out his previous work here.

Sean Delonas's cartoons often cross the line. That seems to be his intent. To suggest that his latest cartoon is only a harmless joke is to ignore all he's said and done in the past.

First, I’d like to say that I am proud of John Legend for taking a stand and identifying this cartoon as a form of disrespect not only to the President, but to black Americans as well. You know, many years ago racist behavior stood out, because it was exercised daily by the white race. Today it has calmed down where most of us do not make racism a part of our daily remembrance, which we may forget how evil some are until we stumble upon an article as such, and those memories resurface so fast like an arrow piercing at the speed of light. At times, I ashamed of our country and to be called an American, for the reason of there being people like this individual who call themselves Americans proudly exercising evil with the same hate blood surging through their veins, causing other countries to seize hatred for America. I hope that other people of stature jump on the “band-wagon” and join Mr. Legend in the boycott of the New York Post. It’s down right ridiculous that President Barack Obama has to consider his safety at all times, and take drastic measures to ensure his family’s safety, and to hate one because of the shade of his/her skin. This is a perfect example of ignorance, and it goes to show that America has not gotten past that stage. President Obama winning the presidential seat has rather heightened the altitude of hatred, which can be extremely lethal. What in the world is wrong with people (we’re talking about adults here)? Many hate this man because of his color, and nothing more. This is why hatred will forever soar, because we have these twisted adults teaching others to hate people because they’re not white. Now, how stupid is that?The devil is sure rearing its ugly head.

M. Hendricks

Thank you soooo much, John, for putting your name and influence on the line and speaking out against this outrageous act. You are a true leader in the entertainment world and in the world period.! Your higher calling is calling you. Thanks for answering. Your grandfather would be proud!

I Love You Sooooo Much.

Thanks for the link! In my opinion, the guy has a sick sort of mentality. I agree that he often crosses the line. I now think his work should be stopped, not because his work is racist, but it is unbecoming. I don't see how a public, "major" organization would even print those types of "cartoons." If we are "fair," we should protest all his cartoon and not just this one.

Thank you John for posting that article to the New York Post!!!! I am so tired of my so-called "friends" asking me, "why do you think the cartoon has anything to do with Obama??"....well John, you answered that - YOU NAILED IT!!!! I agree with everything you said 100%. The only thing i would add is that not only is that sick cartoon ignorant, racist and vile, it is also (and most importanly) DANGEROUS!!!!! As you mentioned, Obama has received numerous death threats and this idiot creates a cartoon that INCITES AND ENCOURAGES VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR PRESIDENT!!!! WHAT??????!!!!!! And if that weren't enough, The New York Post DID NOT APOLOGIZE. I hate it when someone does something terrible to someone and then they say (only after people complain) that they are "sorry if YOU were offended". WHAT??!! That is NOT AN APOLOGY. They are suppose to say they are sorry FOR WHAT THEY DID, not "IF" someone was offended. And even that wont be enough, they need to FIX THIS!!!! And they need to fire whichever irresponsible idiot created it, and the fool that apporved it. And even then I still am BOYCOTTING THE NEW YORK POST. I hope EVERYONE BOYCOTTS THEM. John, you ROCK for writing that article - I appreciate you so much - I am so sorry I never have bought your cd's but i dont' listen to that kind of music - i sure will now. Thank you John! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! VeniceBeachMom

Mr. Legend. Thank you immensely for so eloquently articulating what many enlightened people feel. Censorship discussion aside, the cartoon is just outright inappropriate and not befitting publications like the New York Post. On the assumption that the New York Post hires individuals who understand the impact that the press can have on its readers, I have to believe that the intent of this cartoon was to provoke controversy, foster racism, and encourage violence against the President. Intelligent journalists could have found so many creative and appropriate ways to satire the signing of the stimulus package without these negative implications and potential consequences. Of significance here, is the outright arrogance of the Post in not accepting responsibility or criticism for their actions. In addition, I am very disappointed in the US press for not taking a stand on this issue. Meanwhile, I am grateful to you, Mr. Legend and henceforth will purchase your music and support your creative endeavors as a matter of principle. I will be spending my money and giving my patronage where I think it is appreciated! Hoever, it clearly is not appreciated by the New York Post and perhaps not at other companies and endeavors owned by Mr. Rupert Murdoch. Unfortunately as a media mogul, the list is long. See below:

Selected businesses in Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation Media Empire include..

Filmed Entertainment - News Corporation
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox Espanol
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox International
20th Century Fox Television
Blue Sky Studios
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Fox Studios Australia
Fox Studios LA
Fox Studios Baja
Fox Television Studios

Television - News Corporation
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Sports Australia
Fox Television Stations
FOXTEL
STAR

Cable Television owned by News Corporation
Fox Movie Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox Sports Digital
Fox Sports Enterprises
Fox Sports Espanol
Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports World
FUEL
FX
National Geographic Channel
SPEED Channel
Stats, Inc

Direct Broadcast & Satellite Television - News Corporation
BskyB
DIRECTV
FOXTEL
Sky Italia

Magazines - News Corporation
Inside Out
Donna Hay
News America Marketing
Smart Source
The Weekly Standard
Gemstar

Newspapers - News Corporation
Australasian region Newspapers:
Daily Telegraph
Fiji Times
Gold Coast Bulletin
Herald Sun
Newsphotos
Newspix
Newstext
NT News
Post Courier
Sunday Herald Sun
Sunday Mail
Sunday Tasmanian
Sunday Territorian
Sunday Times
The Advertiser
The Australian
The Courier Mail
The Mercury
The Sunday Mail
The Sunday Telegraph
Weekly Times
United Kingdom region Newspapers:
News International
News of the World
The Sun
The Sunday Times
The Times
Times Education Supplement
Times Higher Education Supplement
Times Literary Supplement
TSL Education
United States region Newspapers:
New York Post

Books - News Corporation
Harper Collins Publishers
- Australia
- Canada
- Childrens Books
- United States
- United Kingdom
Regan Books
Zondervan

Other Investments - News Corporation
MySpace.com Profile
Festival Records
Mushroom Records
National Rugby League - Australia
News Interactive
News Outdoor
Nursery World

Hello, and thanks for posting your comments.

But did you ever stop to think that every adjective that someone attempts to attach to Black Americans may be an attempt to get Black Americans to react and confirm that maybe the adjective really to describe Black Americans. Black Americans are a people of many shades and of great strength. We are highly intelligent, creators of temples and kingdoms. rulers, kings, leaders, and providers. We are not just articulate; anybody can give a speech. But We are more than just what other people say who we are. I know whose I belong to and who I am. GOD is my creator and he made me in his image; marvelously made (that's in the BIBLE).

Charles Darwin believe that man originated from Ape and than develop into this two leg-person who went on to create this World that we now live in. If Charles Darwin is correct and Black American are of a chimp, than that proves my theory, Black Americans are creators. Let us not allow others to tell us who we are like. We are GOD's children and Jesus' siblings. Jesus is no Chimp and Our FATHER is no CHIMP. Stop feeding into their stereotype. You for one should know better.

I am from New York and the New York Post has a history of writing and publishing trash. It is not a newspaper it is like the Star magazine, TMZ, and any other non-factual trash. Lets do what other races and religious groups do to change the behavior of others that attempt to disgrace who we are as a people and race. Stop buy their trash until they respect us. Martin L. King did it to Alabama, Ghandi did it to India, Blacks and others did it to South Africa until Mandela was free. Lets be smarter than them.

Bro. John,

It's a shame that people choose to follow the way of ignorance to try and arouse the sensitive side of a people's consciousness by trying to direct some form of attention towards their position in which they stand and probally will always stand. Who in their right mind did not see that this image that was published is despicable? What the hell was the artist thinking? Was he asked to draw this? I think yes! There is a conspiracy and it has always been! It's time to tell the world that ANYONE who disrepects our dignity, integritity, and our nationality along with our struggles as a peole that has caused many to benefit will not be tolerated and we shall address it.
I applaud you for not only being an artist but showing as an AMERICAN ARTIST who is black, that you will not tolerate this type of blatant foolishness.

Right on!

This is my first time blogging. Mr. Legend I am a fan, and I just had to write in words to commend you on your Open Letter To The New York
Post my god can you write a letter. Best letter I have read in a long time you said everything there was to say and you said it well. Best
wishes in all you do. I will also boycott the Post. Love Belen

I'm not telling you what to do, or what to think. I am merely expressing my views on a blog. So why is it that you tell me to toddle down to blockbuster as if you had a right to tell people what to do? Good, bad, racist, funny, unfunny, despicable, offensive, crude, smart, etc....it's just a cartoon. Get over it. I don't need any music or reading tips, but if you could send me a list of black shows and/or black movies that are black oriented I would appreciate it. Perhaps the fact that you believe that all but one month out of the year are dedicated to white history, and that 'Snow White' is a caucasian film (spellchecker is for grey people also) convince me that you are quicker to hate, than those who you accuse of prejudice or racism. Please,, say what you want but don't tell people what to do.

...create a work of art depicting your anger and disgust with this worldwide issue. Use your creative weapons.
Art records history. It makes people remember the event. And it can also perpetuate change. (and the perpetrators irresponsible actions and names are forever recorded in history). You are an artist with the power of song and video to get your point across. Picasso did it when he painted "Guernica"and the awful horrors of the Spanish Civil War. The turmoil of the 70's was recorded by Edwin Starr "War" and Tempations "Ball of Confusion." New York Magazine (think we forgot) that racist cover of Obama and his wife Michelle on their cover. New York Post and their cartoonist Sean Delonas with the irresponsible and racist New York Post editors...will go down in history as the Bull Connors of the new millenium.
Believe me---
Years from now museum curators will be collecting items for exhibits about racism during this Obama era. Your song will be one playing in the museum exposing the racism. Looking forward to listening to your "Guernica" and discussing it in my lecture classes...
Your letter is a great start.

Lisa Whittington
Professor of Art and Humanities
UWGA

http://lisawhittingtonsintroductiontoart.blogspot.com/

I thought this kind of stuff in American was long oeverdated...
Putting up something like that is really shallow.
Thanks for speaking up

Actually Web, Hothandel told us all to get over it in his/her very first post. So who's trying to tell others what to do? Yeah, it's crazy. I wonder how long will this blog garner people's attention enough to join the site just to post something arbitrary. Why don't they really join and post their pics, letting us know who they are and what city and state they reside in. You see when Coolbutts was called out he ran and hid like the child he is, possibly resurfacing as Kmar.

You raise a very interesting issue, Rhonda; something I have been pondering since discovering this site a week or so ago.

Like many people, I was shocked by the publication of the "chimp cartoon" and browsed several news sites for a discussion of the topic. Within an hour, it was clear to me that John Legend's take on the subject was the most coherent -- and definitely aligned with my view -- so I decided to visit the source of Mr. Legend's open letter to the NY Post. Discovering that he was hosting a blog on the topic was certainly the bonus.

What I found curious, initially, was the evidence of racism among a few of the posters. Why, I wondered, would a racist bigot be attracted to a blog topic that is dedicated to condemning the poor judgement exercised by the NY Post in publishing a racially charged cartoon? Why would people with racist views not be posting on blogs that promote their views, since there is no shortage of web sites dedicated to bigots and racists?

An answer dawned on me, as follows:

Notionally, the general population of racists in America can be divided into 2 groups:

Conscious/Aggressive Racists: Those who hold racist views and freely admit that they are racists. This is the minority of racists. This is the group that tend to join hate groups like the KKK.

Unconscious/Passive Racists: Those who hold racist views but are largely in a state of self-denial. This is the majority of racists. This is the group that attempt to rationalize their racist views by "explaining" them to themselves (and others) through tortured and convoluted logic. The number one red herring argument for this group is ... "freedom of speech". I believe this is by far the most dangerous category of racist -- the ones who hide in plain sight and comfortably spread their poisonous views under apparently respectable banners.

So, that's my take on those who show up as thinly disguised racists on this blog. They are of the unconscious/passive racist group. They are drawn to a site like this -- to practice their explanations for their racist views; apostles of hate, in a sense. A conscious/aggressive racist has no need to do that -- they carry their racism like a badge of honour and gravitate to forums where they can commune with others of their kind; the high priests of hate, in a sense.

Webster

PS: Note that I am not saying that all of the posts on this blog are, or need to be, in full support of John's views on the subject. There have been a number of interesting underlying topics explored -- such as the possible relevance of the cartoonist's intent, hyper sensitivity to symbolic imagery, etc. I am only referring to the posts that are so clearly the tortured product of racist views -- and I applaud Mr. Legend for his diligence in regularly purging them from the blog comment section; with "coolbutts89" being the best case in point.