International Law

The Barack Obama cover scandal

By Handakte

Look carefully at the image on the right. It’s Die Tageszeitung’s (TAZ) new cover.

Even those of us without German can probably make a stab at the words printed above the White House: Uncle Barack’s Cabin.

The edition has caused a scandal in Germany. Although the left-leaning paper claims that the headline was meant to be satirical, many are upset.

Among them is Gary Smith, director of the American Academy in Berlin:

‘Uncle Tom’ is a racial slur, and the TAZ editors clearly sacrificed substance and principle for an unreflected laugh,” he said. “A journalism that prides itself on treating stereotypes with irreverence needs to think harder about its own deployment of stereotypes and racial allusions.

So, unfortunate or offensive? Your thoughts welcome. (…)

Quelle: Timesonline vom 10.06.2008

Full post as published by Handakte WebLAWg on June 10, 2008 (boomark / email).