The July 21 issue of The New Yorker features an image of the Barack and Michelle Obama dressed as terrorists, parodying the suite of racist speculations about the Obamas currently circulating through the right wing.
I understand the joke, and personally find it funny. But the misconception being satirized is a virus of the type that infects through any type of exposure — be it sincere or in jest. Ironically, The New Yorker has legitimized these outrageous beliefs in its attempt to lampoon them.
As one of the nation’s most revered publications, The New Yorker has a greater responsibility to the consequences of its art than the art itself. While I have been a loyal subscriber for many years, I would cancel my subscription if I thought it would help extract an apology.
If other New Yorker subscribers are like me, they’d like to find a way to get an apology short of canceling their subscriptions. Besides, each of us acting alone won’t make any difference. That’s why I started this campaign — we will only cancel once 5,000 subscribers join. That will command the attention of The New Yorker, and hopefully win an apology before we are forced to cancel.
