RSSVogue: Lebron James and Gisele Bundchen Cover … King Kong & Faye Wray … Racially Insensitive … Get a Life!
File this one under … Racism, you have got to be joking … Get a Life!
VOGUE … racially insensitive cover? The only racism that needs to be addressed is by those who seemingly read into and see racism where there is none. We really must start questioning those who cry racism at the drop of a hat. There is real racism that exists, this is not it!
It is simply amazing and disgusting how some people can only see the negative in life. One would think they want to for ulterior motives. When I look at this cover, I see the Odd Couple. I see two people who have made it to the top of their careers at such a young age, have more money and popularity than they know what to do with and have made their mark in two diversely different ways. Both driven in their own ways … both at the top of their game, Gisele with beauty and looks and Lebron with a body that most men would die for and the skills that have made him deserving of the name, King James.
(NBA superstar Lebron James & super model Gisele Bundchen)
There comes a point and time where some people just need to stop their racism agenda. The latest so-called “racially insensitive” call to arms is the recent Vogue cover with NBA basketball phenom Lebron James and super model Gisele Bundchen. King James is actually the first black man to ever grace its cover. However, in the world we live in where some one always seems to find a racially motivated conspiracy in every thing … a controversy has erupted comparing the Vogue cover to that of King Kong and Fay Wray.
(Yea, I get the two pics confused all the time)
But the image is stirring up controversy, with some commentators decrying the photo as perpetuating racial stereotypes. James strikes what some see as a gorilla-like pose, baring his teeth, with one hand dribbling a ball and the other around Bundchen’s tiny waist.
It’s an image some have likened to King Kong and Fay Wray.
“It conjures up this idea of a dangerous black man,” said Tamara Walker, 29, of Philadelphia. (USA Today)
This ridiculous stupidity stems from an ESPN story by Jemele Hill who stated the following:
A black athlete being reduced to a savage is, sadly, nothing new. But this cover gave you the double-bonus of having LeBron and Gisele strike poses that others in the blogosphere have noted draw a striking resemblance to the racially charged image of King Kong enveloping his very fair-skinned lady love interest.
LeBron is just the third male ever to appear on Vogue’s cover, but it’s hard to believe Vogue would have made Brett Favre, Steve Nash or even David Beckham strike his best beast pose. And even if Vogue had, it wouldn’t carry the same racial undertones as having a fear-inducing black man paired with a dainty damsel.
Too often, black athletes are presented as angry, overly aggressive and overly sexual. Or sometimes, they’re just plain emasculated.
(Faye Wray … Funny, Gisele seems to be smiles ear to ear)
That’s correct. You heard that right. The cover of Lebron James and Gisele Bundchen is being compared to King Kong and Fay Wray. What are some people thinking and what is their agenda? Maybe some one would like to ask Jemele Hill, who is black, why she sees racism where there is none. How can any one look at a simple magazine cover and describe it as another form of racism against black? Unfortunately, there is obviously racism that still occurs in the 21st century; however, this is not it. When people constantly cry wolf and make absurd comments, they diminish the acts of real racism.
People have been suspended and even fired from their jobs for making racist 
or what were perceived as racist comments. One has to wonder why ESPN would not do the same with Jemele Hill’s attempt at calling something racist when it was not. Even many black activists saw nothing wrong with the cover. In fact, one might think that this was a break though milestone as Lebron James was the first black man ever to be on the cover.
Why should be be wary of this ESPN article by Jemele Hill? Because she manages to evoke the super Democratic, all loving, all knowing, all caring, above racism and ignorance candidate Barack Obama. Why is it surprising that race and Obama’s name would come up again so soon? Does Miss Hill attend the same type of church that Obama did and does as well?
“It’s like Barack Obama said in his much-talked about speech on race Tuesday. We know so little about one another. Even scarier, we know even less about the fallout of racist history”.
Yeah, we are going to take advice from a man, Barack Obama, who for 20 years sat back and listened to the hate speech and reverse racism of the Reverend Wright. Obama sat back and pandered to Wright to gain the black vote while anti-white, anti-Italian and anti-American comments were made. One would tend to think that racial slurs and taking the Lord’s name in vain from the pulpit are a much worse situation that this harmless Vogue cover.
Am I supposed to be mad about LeBron?
Would someone please write a handbook? “What Will and Won’t Piss Black Folk Smooth the **** Off” would be an international bestseller.
I’m black, and I’m pissed off most of the time, but I wouldn’t leave home without the handbook. Not in these racist-ly confusing times. I can barely keep up with when I’m supposed to be disappointed as opposed to offended as opposed to being pissed smooth the **** off.
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Comments
24 Responses to “Vogue: Lebron James and Gisele Bundchen Cover … King Kong & Faye Wray … Racially Insensitive … Get a Life!”
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I thought that the cover was GREAT!! I was amazed that a guy was on the cover, but why not? And with a beautiful woman. I was embarrassed for both of them to be on the news in the center of a racial controversy. I am so sick of all the race talk. You can’t even hang out with someone of another color without someone gossiping, commenting or complaining. We are supposed to have made progress in this country, racial progress. So everyone SHUTUP and let Vogue have their fun and crazy cover.
molly in houston
It’s for sure not insensative even if some think it’s insensitive.
When there started being rumblings of this in the news LAST week, I thought the SAME thing I am thinking THIS week….
Is it REALLY that slow of a news day out there? American media needs to focus on more important issues at hand…i.e., The upcoming election and praying for OBAMA not to win—having the media use their powers to keep the pressure on the Natalee Holloway case and Joran & Daddy VDS and the Kalpoe brothers GUILT….it’s been quiet again there.
But this story and these allegations are just pure diddly-bull crap.
Keeping racism alive is a cottage industry by many. Without racism some people would have no career or voice.
R
First off, I totally agree that the Vogue cover should not be called racially insensitive. Lebron looks that way because he is a big basketball player who happened to snarl when the picture was taken. i’m sure he makes this same face (as do other basketball players) during every game he plays. the photographer who took the photo was Annie Lebowitz, who has photographed the worlds most influential figures for decades…I’m sure she wouldn’t have agreed to do the photo shoot if she thought the photo would even remotely depict black man as bestial.
that being said, i don’t think many people [yes you, white people] realize that there ARE still racial issues that need to be dealt with in this country. if you can’t see that, then you are just plain ignorant, and shouldn’t be spouting off your narrow-minded views to the general public.
and for the record, it is “taking the Lord’s name in VAIN”…not VANE. Sacred Monkey…hire a proficient proof-reader.
You know Claire … I would not be the one calling people ignorant for their views … do not throw stones.
You would be narrow minded as well if you did not think that many people in thsi country keep racism alive and turn a profit when black and white are at each others thoats.
And by the way … Maybe you should hire someone to teach you some manners.
R
wow, wonder who made him pose for this picture? since i don’t see anybody with guns forcing either person to pose here, and he looks big enough to more than take care of himself, i think i’ll just worry about something else tonight.
dennisintn
Oh, for God’s sake!!!!!!
I used to be a graphic designer, and I ain’t seein’ it.
I didn’t know that the uproar was over this until checking in here. All I can say is Giselle does not seem afraid and there are a whole lot of women out there who would love to have LeBron’s arm around them. Besides, King Kong was actually a very sympathetic and loving, although a bit over-sized, gorilla. So let’s talk race when there’s a problem, not when a tough competitor is shown bearing his teeth.
Claire, I’m a white person who knows there are racial issues. I also know there are a lot of black women who resent (to say the least) white women who date/marry black men. In fact, I’m wondering if that’s the underlying problem for some with this pic.
Somebody had to dig really really deep to come up with this one.
King Kong directors:
MERIAN Cooper
ERNEST Schoedsack
MERIAN ERNEST
John GUILLERMIN
King Knog director(1976)
“Et tu, Guillermin?”
D’un amoureux de film a l’autre
Did King Kong have a basketball?
It’s called pot stirring. I agree with Red, some activists like to keep things stinking.
I wonder do you suppose there would be a same reaction if it were a white man and black women?
The message that I get from all this: any imbecile who cares to speak up in public can get media attention. I have absolutely no idea who Jemele Hill may be, but I hope that he or she got the last moment of fame that these remarks merit.
Methinks this ‘controversy’ is probably staged by Vogue somehow to draw attention. In our society, it seems, any kind of public notoriety is enough to draw interest … and money.
Thank you Claire (#5), for your startling insight that racial issues have not been eliminated in this country. As we see from the history of the Hutu and the Tutsi in Rwanda, to take just one example, once racial unity has been achieved, we are on the brink of Paradise.
17. Richard. One of many times I absolutely love your way with words.
#5 Claire—-How long are blacks going to keep riding the “racial discrimination” bus?
Tom Brady had no problem with Gisele posing for the photo shoot—and it is PR…it is meant to shock and sell copies……it was staged that way to represent the enormus difference in their physical appearances…i.e, he is big and muscular–she is feminine and dainty!
I am happy that management here advised you to acquire some manners, Claire. Also, get a clue—the comments above are facts as stated in print by the photographer Annie L. herself and what she wanted to depicit for the photo op. You should stop whining in general, it is not a flattering personality feature for you. It does not empower you whatsoever—think of MLK and how he got his message across—it is the complete opposite of your attempts at reasoning.
“that being said, i don’t think many people [yes you, white people] realize that there ARE still racial issues that need to be dealt with in this country. if you can’t see that, then you are just plain ignorant, and shouldn’t be spouting off your narrow-minded views to the general public.”
Why are we still generalizing where race is concerned? As if to say that ALL white people are ignorant about race and even responsible for it. I personally take no responsibility for racial issues. I don’t treat people differently and I don’t teach my kids to. That’s what I take responsibility for. It’s ignorant to generalize.
As for the cover…Did anyone even get to the article and what it’s about? Secrets of Best Bodies!! Who better could they have chosen if not a model and a top athlete?
[yes you, white people]
No generalization there, is it?
LilPuma…YOU hit it on the head. Yup, I have heard it myself. Black women stating that “they don’t like THEIR men dating white woman.” No different than white men whining that “their women” are dating men of color. I asked a black friend of mine once how she felt about inter-racial dating and her reply was “she didn’t like it because makes them weak.” I asked if she meant the white woman or the man…she said “the man because white woman let their men walk all over them.” Uhhh, whatever was pretty much my response.
As for April, boy, you are really brilliant. Not a person on this board said racism or discrimination don’t exist. Do you realize it exists in both directions? Just read up on Rev. Wright (wrong really). He is no different than the KKK crowd and is as racist as it gets. I’ll argue that point with anyone…and win.
The reason racism exists is because people out there are still small-minded enough to give a damn what others think of them. THAT is a fact. I could not give a rat’s arse what a single, living human soul thinks of me. I am what I am and will have to account to my Creator, not you, not SM, not my husband…so I live the best I can and that’s that.
Here’s my story… I am small, physically fit, a natural blonde, and have a degree in Programming Analysis. I work in I.T. and my company has a few hundred computer professionals working at data centers around the globe. My team consists of 27 people. I am the only woman. At our site, there are 80 people. We have 11 women in total. Men are men and I get all of the sexual jokes, dumb blonde jokes, etc. Know what? I COULD NOT CARE LESS! IT DOES NOT BOTHER ME AT ALL!!! Personally, I find it humorous. Simply shows who the dummy is (hint..not me). Funny thing is that when these men need something…SUDDENLY they are telling me I am a “guru” at what I do and want answers to their problem. KNow what I do? Tell them I’m just a “dumb blonde” and to figure it out themselves. Yeah, I go back and help later when I see they are desparate…but the key is not letting it get to you. Like their thinking changes MY life in a single way. Hey, if I don’t like it, I’ll find another job. No biggie at all. Truth be told, I know they don’t really believe it. They know I am not offended, but they sure do try ;>)
This magazine cover has nothing to do with Barack, but since the author of this article wants to relate the two, I feel compelled to respond. “Obama sat back and pandered to Wright to gain the black vote while anti-white, anti-Italian and anti-American comments were made.” In regards to this comment, do you really think Obama started going to Trinity 20 years ago to get the Black vote today. Stop repeating what you hear the media say and think for yourself.
Wow, I know this is old news but I came across this and thought it was ridiculous how you completely ignored the REAL image of ‘king kong’ that you needed to show. Google ‘Destroy this mad brute’ and you will see why this is an intentionally racially insensitive photo. They copied a racist propaganda poster directly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-German_sentiment