Racist Cartoon in the Globe and Mail

This message came into my inbox today, and I thought our blog readers might be interested.  (I've included it here with the permission of the author.) Comments welcome!

CARTOON DEPICTING AFROCENTRIC EDUCATION
For those of you who aware of the cartoon that was published by the Globe and Mail, Canada's largest selling national newspaper, on February 18th, please see my response to the Editor.  Do be aware that whilst I have no intention of pasting and thus reproducing the image, I have posted the web link as those outside of Canada may not be privy to the information. For those of you reading this outside of Canada, the Canadian media has been having a wonderful time with their racist depictions of Afrocentrism, especially after a group of parents and community members won the majority vote in the Toronto School Council's Board meeting to proceed with Afrocentric schools in Toronto.  If you can, please write to the globe and mail and register your outrage! [email protected] 
Below is my letter and the web link of the cartoon they printed.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/v5/images/newspaper/20080218/cartoon-600.png

The Editor,
The Globe and Mail
444 Front St. W.
Toronto, ON
M5V 2S9
Canada

February 19th 2008

Dear Editor,

Re: With reference to your Family Day, February 18th 2008 cartoon, "Afrocentric Algebra".
The history of Algebra began in ancient Egypt, and thus it was Egyptians who taught Algebra to members of their society, those close by who came in droves from Greece, and the rest of the world.  The last time I checked, Egypt was and still remains to be located in North Africa. Why on earth, would anyone assume that the teaching of Algebra in an Afrocentric school system would be accompanied by street slang, suggestive of a particular aspect of popular culture, which whether its origins are to be found among a select few among African American proponents of Black popular culture, does not mean that expressions such as the one your cartoon utilizes should be used to depict the teaching methods employed by Afrocentric teachers to their learners.  The cartoon is racist, inflammatory, completely and utterly ignorant and highly out of a place, especially in a national newspaper, which has regularly sought to depict its stance among readers as a fair and just one. Ironically, it is the Eurocentrism of your cartoonist, and those whose racist views such a cartoon represents, that Afrocentrism seeks to address—the denial of the contributions made by African peoples, the right to be taught a history that truly and accurately reflects the contributions we have made in Art, Literature and the Sciences, and the right to be taught by people who represent us, who resemble us and who understand such a history. Clearly, your cartoonist is unaware of the African origin of Algebra!

Canada has many educated teachers and professors with highly desirable academic qualifications from the African and African Caribbean communities, who have been educated in many different parts of the world. Canadian schools have not educated learners from the African and African Caribbean communities towards prosperity—drop out rates and racial profiling tell the story of racism, alienation, ridicule and continued colonial arrogance, so much so that learners who survive never quite thrive. I have followed the debate on Afrocentric schools now for a long time and was delighted at the small victory a group of parents and community members achieved. I am completely and utterly disgusted by this display of racism. You cannot seriously think that it is acceptable to print such racist propaganda. Surely, you have higher regard for your newspaper?
Rozena Maart
Guelph, Ontario
Canada

Comments

[AE]

Rozena...I totally agree with your post...
Here is my letter to the editor...

If it was truly printed I am appalled at the RACIST CARTOON that ran in your paper on Monday Feb 18th, 2008. What a terrible shame that it happened on family day as well. The caricature depicted a black teacher with the words"sup dog" in a bubble. There needs to be a full out apology to the black community in your paper and in various media outlets immediately by your owners. The creator of this distasteful Cartoon should be fired and the editor of your paper should be fired and/or reprimanded. These images as well as institutional racism continue the trend to discredit Black people and other minorities in this society. Why would you print this? Do you want to be like those European papers who print racist caricatures about Muslims etc.?
I am deeply saddened as a Black man in my thirties who was born and raised in Canada! I though this country was "different" than America and all the other countries but "the Great White North's" true colors have come out!
Wow. Sad day for me when I got this email!

there was a lame excuse as well from the Globe that makes light of the situation. I think this demands a protest. Blacks must be heard and they must know that now it the most important time to "Value Education" in the black community. Parents have been slacking and they need to be involved in their kid's lives and support their academic endeavours. The TIME IS NOW! I for one believe there should be a protest at the Globe & Mail's offices. These people must stop this covert assault on Black's ability to get educated. I agree...the use of slang combined with the teaching of Algebra which originated in the motherland of Africa...was tasteless.

[Emad Chowdhury]

Hi Rozena,
I am truly happy to find your post. The cartoon in the globe and mail has been bothering me the whole week. This is a flagrantly racist cartoon depicting black North Americans as street thugs. In popular street slang peers often refer to each other as "dawg" refering to close aquaintances and friends, however the cartoon has "dog" referring Afrocentric Schools as teaching for the dogs. Someone should pull a human rights case against the globe and mail and then fire the Cartoonist for his ignorance. Everyone should understand that afrocentric schools are not only for the black community but for all nationals, only the education is going to be geared towards afrocentrism. There are numerous universities that have afrocentric education, why not schools? It will do better for the self esteem of all colored nationals in this country. Most education in North America is Eurocentric and it seems positive education of cultures and history outside Europe and North America is dismissed as trivial and primitive. This is propesturous.

[vickie mcphee]

We not only have a base for an OHRC complaint we are in a good position to effectively change the racist mindsets of those in the media that act from their racism without thought. I believe that I will attend the mtg that Grace has suggested and see if I can formulate a first draft fairly quickly. Family be aware there is a new civil war brewing and this one is for the Afrikans by the Afrikans
Asha

[vickie mcphee]

We not only have a base for an OHRC complaint we are in a good position to effectively change the racist mindsets of those in the media that act from their racism without thought. I believe that I will attend the mtg that Grace has suggested and see if I can formulate a first draft fairly quickly. Family be aware there is a new civil war brewing and this one is for the Afrikans by the Afrikans
Asha

[David Louis Melville]

Thank you To all who have made insightful, critical and community-minded comments to this matter, focussed around racism in the public media. There appears to be perpetual immunity for this racism, and that needs to be challenged by educational institutions, legislative and governmental organizations, and, indeed, all members of society. The 'apology' is not acceptable, as it is not an apology. Nor does it have promise to NOT repeat the offence. Nor does it present any remedy!
Community Legal Education is needed! Now is the time! We have the power! The power of truth and justice!

[Jacqueline Boyd]

I can't believe that something of this nature is happening in this century. I grew up in Canada in the early 70's when racism was rampant and I personally experienced racism throughout out my school years. I had learned to overcome the ignorance of the "white man" only to have it thrust back in my face once again via this racist cartoon depicting our African teachers as mere thugs. It is utterly DEPLORABLE that a newspaper as prominent as the Globe and Mail can be allowed to print such flargrantly racist material. Finally people of colour will be able to learn about their culture in the public schools and what does that result it...? Ridicule! I believe that the Globe and Mail owes the people of this community a public apology.

[Kantanka]

I'm not really surprised at this disgusting cartoon. I always say that euro-canadian are as racist as euro-americans. The only difference is that canadians don't show their true colours. they do a very good job in hiding it. But now, it has been revealed. would they print any cartoons about jew-ish people and their "holocaust"? Africans are very intelligent people. Look at all the marvelous inventions by Africans. They hate us because they know who we are and what we can do. It's time for the rest of our brothers/sister to know who we are and what we are capable of.

[andygib]

Cartoons are usually meant to be funny or thought-provoking, this comes close to neither. I admittedly snickered because I was thinking that this, the whole story, was a joke. I'm from a southern state in the U.S. and I admit ignorance when it comes to Canada generally. Maybe I live in a fantasy land, but one thing I thought I knew, that this sort of thing did not take place in Canada, has been proven wrong. I wonder how many people approved this and what their mindset was in doing so?

[loola.j]

Umm, does this make me sound dumb? but I don't actually get it (the pic)!! But I do know that racism is wrong! We are all of the same importance, no matter what our skin color is (even pink!!!) but some people just don't think that. And that is how racism came along! I bet if we all got on as one big peaceful community (black and white) we wouldn't need any government or queens and kings, and that would be great! Don't you think so? Well I have made my point now so, bye!
PS: I am only 10!!! So I guess that is why i don't understand the pic!
Peace out!

[David Hanna]

Well it is interesting that I have heard very educated African-Americans use words like "AXE" in place of the word ask.
I find it interesting that blacks in the Americas have a unique dialect/accent that differs from their "white" counterparts while many blacks from England sound just like any other Englishman, regardless of color.
It could be social climes or even popular media influencing so many blacks to speak a similar dialect across such a wide geographic area.

Egypt may have once been a center of learning for the World but that time has come and gone. We would be fools to believe that society as we know it will continue forever. History has shown us time & again that great societies rise then fall, it is inevitable. One day everything we know will cease to exist.

[henrylow]

Influence can be defined as the power exerted over the minds and behavior of others. A power that can affect, persuade and cause changes to someone or something. In order to influence people, you first need to discover what is already influencing them. What makes them tick? What do they care about? We need some leverage to work with when we’re trying to change how people think and behave.

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