|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

An Apology


June 30, 2011
Dear Reader,

On behalf of The Rhinoceros Times, I apologize for the offensive political cartoon in the June 23 edition of The Rhinoceros Times. The cartoon appears to be two black male prisoners using poor grammar talking about being in jail. The males are supposed to be two white men. The color that was used for these cartoon characters is the exact same shade that this paper used for Guilford County Manager Brenda Jones Fox in the May 19 edition, but as it appears the cartoon is offensive.

We regret the error and offer sincere apologies to everyone who is offended by the cartoon. We are also offended by the cartoon. As it appears in the newspaper it is racially insensitive and promotes a negative racial stereotype we find offensive.

Both the cartoonist and the graphic artist who colored the cartoon were shocked at how it appeared in the newspaper. Geof Brooks, our cartoonist, said he was sick when he opened the paper and saw his cartoon. He said he drew the characters as New York mobsters.

Although we cannot do anything about the papers that have been printed, we removed the colorized cartoon from the website and replaced it with the original pen and ink drawing, which we find acceptable.

B&W cartoon
shadow

We have also included the original pen and ink version of the cartoon here so that our readers can see for themselves what our intent was.

John Hammer

Editor-in-Chief

The Rhinoceros Times

printPrint
emailEmail Link
CommentFeedback
shareShare
  1. print email
    Boo Boo
    June 30, 2011 | 07:11 AM

    Glad G town has one paper that makes a legitimate effort to make a mistake right. It's a refreshing change.

    justsayin'
  2. print email
    June 30, 2011 | 10:41 AM

    Not even close to buying this explanation.

  3. print email
    Don't understand
    June 30, 2011 | 11:09 PM

    Even if these men were black I don't see how the comic is offensive. People call people racist when they don't want to have a debate. It's sick how everything is race oriented.

    Page
  4. print email
    July 01, 2011 | 09:45 AM

    John, I think I want you, are you into man/man love?

  5. print email
    Another Reason Why I Respect This Paper
    July 01, 2011 | 12:27 PM

    Apology accepted. BTW- I'm not offended, although I look exactly like the guy on the right... LOL

    Me
  6. print email
    Offensive Nature of your newspaper
    July 01, 2011 | 05:38 PM

    What about all of the white people, we have feelings too. Why does it have to be two white guys, are you not concerned with the appearance of a racist newspaper to white people, or you only concerned when you offend one class of citizens....a better idea would have been not to have printed something like this at all, or use a whte guy and a black guy...where is my apology now?

    Fed UP
  7. print email
    Really?
    July 02, 2011 | 04:22 PM

    So you think its less offensive to produce the same cartoon with white Italians? Well as a white Italian male I take offense to the inability of your readers to distinguish comedy from racism. As well as your lack of a backbone. Instead of standing up for the comedy aspect of the comic strip you apologize and just throw it off on white people. Just because you may be white that doesnt make it better. People need to stop being so touchy. Its a joke. Take the joke. Laugh or dont. You dont have to play the race card every time someone says or does something you dont like. That half-hearted pc attitude is what contributes to real racism.

    Mark Carley
  8. print email
    I'm outraged
    July 02, 2011 | 05:41 PM

    As a big headed white male who people in the south think speaks with a northeast inflection, I am indeed outraged. In addition, I am aghast that such a cartoon would be run.
    I have never been outraged or aghast in my life so I feel good that I can include these terms in my vocabulary.

    Bill
  9. print email
    regarding the first post.
    July 02, 2011 | 06:40 PM

    as a white man, i am not offended by the original pen and ink drawing that seems to depict two uneducated men or white men but that is because for the past 500 some years there are enough depictions and descriptions of white men doing positive things which just reaffirms our position in society. some examples, super man (all versions), batman, most of the characters on any TV show, all but one President (yea, that one that every conservative seems to have it out for on everything besides his actual politics which are the issues that i disagree with Obama on. Come on y'all want to prove to yourselves that he is not an American like that even matters.), etc...

    The actual published cartoon says more about y'all at the rhino times than it does us, the ones that hate it and cant stand your point of view. not that it matters because you wont post this comment.

    John Brown
  10. print email
    The apology is as bad as the cartoon
    July 05, 2011 | 02:26 PM

    It’s quite comical that the Editor thought that by redirecting the target of his papers cartoon to "White Men" it would make everything ok. Nothing like trying to pacify one racial group by targeting another. “New York Mobsters” who I guess by the editor’s account are all white …and the stereotypes keep coming. My advice once the foot is there leave it the apology is as bad as the cartoon. Thanks

    Brian
Reader Feedback Submission
Use this form to submit Reader Feedback. Your submission will be reviewed by our staff before appearing on the Web site.
* required value
Your Name

Subject

Comment*

Verification*


PharmQuest
Rhino Search