SEMINARIANS FOR CHANGE
An Open Letter to the New York Post
As an African American and as a citizen of the United States of America, I am deeply appalled by the New York Post’s choice to run a political cartoon that irritates the racial tension that continues to thrive in this country. We are at a crossroad in time where we must face the reality of racism. Organizations such as yours should be facilitators and nurturers of the discussion to aid in the healing and remaking of America.
Instead, you have chosen to use that power to stoke the fire of hate, ignorance, and division. There must be accountability for the printing of this image that further threatens to oppress and marginalize a race of people. I stand by the members of my organization, Seminarians for Change, and call for the dismissal of the cartoonist and editor who gave approval for this demeaning and racist image to be published.
We, Seminarians for Change, further call for an apology by the New York Post to the American people who are deeply offended by its poor editorial choices and its vicious display of racism in publishing the cartoon depicting an assassinated chimpanzee, reminiscent of the era of lynching, cross burning, and hate crime directed towards African Americans, people of color, and those who believe in justice and equality.
Only forty years ago, this country mourned the loss of brave men and women who stood up for peace, equality, unity, and justice, and were martyred for it. Your choice to publish this cartoon undermines the great sacrifice these men and women have made and sorely reminds us that racism is alive and well in America.
As concerned citizens, we hold you responsible and will encourage others in your readership to do the same. Your actions as a Newspaper must not be tolerated and your readership and citizens of this country must not be ignored as we express our outrage and call for action, acknowledgement, and accountability without delay.
In the Spirit of Human Dignity,
Waltrina N. Middleton, Founder
Seminarians for Change
A CALL FOR ACTION, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Please join me and the organization ColorOfChange.org and its members in demanding that the Post apologize publicly and fire the editor who allowed this cartoon to go to print:
http://www.colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=1682-771729
You can help, by making clear that the Post's behavior is unacceptable, and by asking your friends and family to do the same.
Please join the call for action:
http://www.colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=1682-771729
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment