An Open Letter To The New York Post

To: Paul V. Carlucci, Publisher, New York Post
Cc: Rupert Murdoch, News Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

New York Post
1211 Avenue of Americas
New York, NY 10036

Dear Mr. Carlucci,

I was neither shocked nor saddened by the New York Post's recent publication of Sean Delonas' cartoon depicting a bullet-riddled chimpanzee, killed by police and thus unable "to write the next stimulus bill." The image evoked a long history of racially-charged comparisons of Black people to monkeys and pandered -- very intentionally -- to a fringe element that fantasizes about a dead nigger in the White House.

I am not writing to ask that you publish an apology. Nor do I ask that whichever editor approved Delonas' cartoon for publication be fired, whether it was Editorial Page Editor Bob McManus, Editor Col Allan, or another senior manager in the newsroom. I certainly won't ask that you determine who was responsible and hold that person accountable. Surely the responsible party is already identified and rewarded. Any action on your part will be based solely on its ability to increase circulation.

I was particularly amused by the Post's sole response to readers who found the image to have racist undertones. The callous, though typical, statement Col Allan issued Wednesday denies a historical reality, and for him to claim ignorance of this history justifies questions about his ability to effectively lead a daily newspaper geared toward a mainstream and multiracial audience. What it clearly demonstrates is his ability to move that rag, loosely disguised as a newspaper.

Please do not publish an apology, especially when you will conduct business as usual. Such action will acknowledge the contempt you have for your readers, but do not listen to me. Do what you've always done. Perhaps more readers will repeat my actions of 12 years ago; drop the Post in the nearest waste can and NEVER buy it again.

Sincerely,

Rodney Snell