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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Misc Is This VV Cover Racist? The Guy From TV on the Radio Thinks So

Posted by Chas Bowie on Wed, Feb 14 at 9:59 AM

When the Village Voice pooped out their Pazz and Jop Critic’s Poll last week, David O’Keefe produced this illustration to represent Bobby D beating out TV on the Radio for album of the year. Now TVotR saxophonist Martin Perna is crying racism:

Nowhere in the consciousness of Voice editors or illustrator David O’Keefe can we find memories of James Byrd, a black man who was dragged behind a truck to his death by white racists in Jasper, Texas, in 1998, or Arthur “J.R.” Warren, who was run over four times and killed for being black and gay in West Virginia in 2000, and all the other lynchings that happened in the U.S. before and since…
That this picture could be drawn and not questioned or vetoed by any of the people who saw it prior to publication shows the level of ignorance and racism that persists in leftist institutions like the Voice that continue to posture as hip and progressive. It reveals that among decision-makers at the paper there is not one single person with any sort of racial consciousness or sensitivity who had the power or courage to send that picture back to the drawing board.

I don’t know… I’m usually pretty sensitive to things like this, but Perna seems like he’s stretching here. (Semi-related note: For an incredible read about James Byrd, pick up a copy of this book.) Also, be sure to read the VV reader’s comment about how the drawing’s not racist—but it sure is anti-disability! Thoughts?

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Comments

Man. I was sleeping quietly about an hour or so away from the James Byrd dragging when it happened.

Waking up and hearing that on the morning news was surreal, indeed. How New Yorkers have an especially hard time getting 9/11 out of their mind, I am the same way with the James Byrd tragedy.

I see it everywhere I look. How a small ripple in the pond of racism (a "harmless" black joke here and there) can become the tidal wave, which is two fuck-up racists dragging a black man to death behind their pick-em up truck.

I don't like it. Being even "barely" racist is enough to get you on my bad side.

And... For the most part, the Village Voice annoys the piss out of me.

All that being said... I didn't get that "gut" feeling from that cover that I get when I hear homophobic rappers, or see a flyer for a David Allen Coe show...

This was just a case of number one beating number two. If Bob would have beat the Killers out for the top spot, then that dude with the stupid ass mustache would be on the ground...

But... If people are offended, they are offended, and I don't think the Village Voice is responding in a socially beneficial manner.

Posted by Tron Javolta | February 14, 2007 10:31 AM

Man, Bob Dylan sure looks like a sinister old hook-nosed Jew.

Posted by jumbo | February 14, 2007 3:18 PM

Uh, I doubt that it's racially motivated-- I can't find where that's coming from.

Oh dude! TVotR, BDB And Blonde Redhead are in town, I just noticed that ad!! -->

Posted by Alex-jon | February 15, 2007 1:13 AM

Are they opening for Tropicana?

Posted by scott moore | February 15, 2007 8:58 AM

Buh, where'd the ad go!

Posted by Alex-jon | February 15, 2007 9:53 AM

Isn't cartoon history full of satire for public figures and cartoon cats and mice characters trying to kill each other? Respect to TVOTNR, but this is so harmless.

Posted by e*rock | February 16, 2007 11:31 AM

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