Black history wrong in “Fathertyme”
I am writing to you to express my displeasure over reading the recent “Fathertyme” cartoon which depicted African-Americans in a very negative light. Not only was this cartoon racist, but it was also historically inaccurate. First, the time period of 1800-1900 was not the period in which many blacks were voted into office since slavery did not end until the 1860s. African-Americans did not enjoy the short-lived privilege of holding such important offices as mayor until after slavery when Reconstruction efforts began to sweep the South. Second, as depicted in the second frame, not all of the members of the civil rights movement were Black militants. Many of the people who shared in the struggle for civil rights were non-violent, passive, peace loving blacks and whites. Finally, I am offended by the depiction of African-Americans as irresponsible, politically unaware, alcohol toting, impoverished individuals as drawn in the final frame of the cartoon. I am assuming that this cartoon was meant to show how the position of African-Americans has changed drastically in American society. Although, I understand there is concern over the status of African-Americans as marginalized members of society, I do not think that this cartoon adds much to the discussion. Nor do I believe that another “Fathertyme” cartoon which showed a white couple using an Ebonics dictionary to communicate with a gun wielding, African-American male helped either. I would only hope that the Lantern would exercise more caution in the selection of the cartoons it uses to represent its publication. I sincerely hope that this message is passed along to Antoine Perkins so he can take a look at the stereotypical image of African-Americans that he is so poignantly perpetuating.
Jacqueline Brooks
