Monday, March 31, 2008

Can You Hear Me Now?


So, ever since the latest issue of VOGUE with LeBron and Gisele Bundchen hit stands, alot of people in the media (and the office and the bar) have been going back and forth as to how they feel about the cover image and its racial connotations. Anyone with two good eyes can look at it and see what's really going on. I'm not saying to raid the streets with molotov cocktails over this, but to have a "whats the big deal" attitude about it ain't acceptable either. But, for those of you who still don't get why this cover is deemed offensive to some, The Starting Five found a visual for you that should make the picture clearer.



Peep their on-point commentary HERE.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

yep playing to the white mans fear.....and get my new book folk its on the right side of my page and do a review for XXL for me pls

Anonymous said...

wow, same color dress and everything huh? could this be any more blatant, offensive,.... just, ugh. the HELL? dude. then you wonder why it's important for there to be black ownership in the media.

and why would lebron think somethin like this was okay to do??

Anonymous said...

Good call Reese. Until I saw the Fay Wray/King Kong photo I didn't understand the uproar myself -- now I get it. Like most folks, I am curious to hear what Lebron has to say about it -- I'd have to assume there is no way he'd pose that way knowing that Leibowitz was attempting to recreate that photo -- but stranger things have happened.

Anonymous said...

I have to admit, initially I was like what's the big deal too. But now that I saw the King Kong sh88, it shines a new light on it for me...that being said, you know where I stand. I have to wonder, will this sh88 ever end? the real irony lies in the drastic similiarity in the attire. Cuz, this sh88 is pathetic, it's racist, it's deliberate and it's demoralizing!! I won't blame Bron though cause its no way he had any knowledge of the inspiration for the photo. But, at this point, he needs to speak up!! That sh88 should be pulled! Word to Marcus Garvey!!!

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately LeBron has the "what's the big deal attitude"

"Everything my name is on is going to be criticized in a good way or a bad way. …Who cares what anybody says.”

That was his only reaction as far as I know. LeBron is young and naive about certain things.

Anonymous said...

you know what...i was hoping that Lebron just didn't know...that he got hoodwinked...but sheid, he already beats his chest everytime he dunks on somebody...so shied, he might really want to be king kong....

Anonymous said...

man, that dude did not get hoodwinked. anyone with eyes can see how offensive this is-- without the king kong picture as explanation. and lebron ain't that damn young. anyone over the age of 12 coulda/shoulda made this call.

Anonymous said...

LeBron has had people kissing his ass since the time they realized he could dribble a basketball. Black and white people. Lebron like many young people myself included have never experienced the type of racisim that our parents or grandparents experienced. I know it still exists because I live in the real world and while I definitely have never experienced it to the degree of my older folks, I have experienced plenty of different forms of racism. All that being said, LeBron is young and I don't think he thought that photo would offend as many people as it did. He's a Global Icon in the making who sees tons of little white children rocking his jersey and not to mention all the white people who are paying him Millions of dollars to endorse this or that. I'd be willing to bet he hasn't experienced the type of racism that you almost certainly have to have experienced to know that the photo was offensive. I'm not absolving him of any guilt, but I think its more about him being ignorant and uninformed.

Anonymous said...

I'm Black and don't believe that Lebowits set out to do a king kong pic. Gisele does not look in distress to me. She's smiling and all. My only thing was why is he in workout gear and she in a gown. if they wanted a glamour shot,he should be in a Tux to match her gown or put both in active wear.

Anonymous said...

dumb jock