Curious George Obama T-Shirt racist or not?

[StardogChampion]

"Monkey" isn't an inherently racist word, or a racist animal, or a racist anything. While it can be used as a slur, there is no direct evidence here of it being employed in such a fashion. You are only making grumbles because, of all people the comparison could have been made with, it just happened to be a black person. And through some unexplained cosmic equation, this renders it racist.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2006-06-01-intolerance-cup_x.htm

I've been harassed while in a car, punched in face, heard monkey chants

fans whistled, booed and made monkey noises

threatened to walk out of a game after being showered with monkey chants and peanuts from opposing fans

They're chanting because those players all look like monkeys do they? Other than colour, you'd have to say no.

It's racist. End of.

 

[Polaris]

Racist?

 

[Mr Stabby]

Whether it's racist or not it's certainly in bad taste, considering the legacy of racism towards blacks involving portrayals as monkeys.

 

[Absinthe]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2006-06-01-intolerance-cup_x.htm




They're chanting because those players all look like monkeys do they? Other than colour, you'd have to say no.

It's racist. End of.

That is a different situation. It is clearly racist because it is explicitly derogatory and aimed specifically at blacks.

But here we have a precedent of politicians being compared to chimps and considering it fair game, only now an exception is being made for an African American. Furthermore, he's not even being compared to an actual monkey, but a cartoon.

If you want to make the argument that it's deliberately provocative, I think it would have merit. But all these accusations of racism are pretty unfounded IMO.