However…

Point of fact: Africans neither invented nor spread algebra, unless you are expanding Africa out to include Arabia, where the Crusaders learned about it from Muslim scholars, and even further, to India, where the Muslim scholars got it and where it was originally developed.

Also, can we please just be honest? Most of Africa is now and always has been a war-torn disaster. The notable exceptions–the ones people always point to to try to get around that inconvenient historical truth–are the regions in the north and the east, where those societies were able to trade ideas and receive the benefits of close contact Middle Eastern and Mediterranean thought. They were, and still are, participants in the global exchange of ideas.

If you are the descendant of slaves captured by rival tribal nations, sold to vile North Americans of European descent, and shipped, in horrifying conditions, to a life and generations of forced servitude, I’m sorry, but you are not a descendant of the groups of Africans we point to to try to improve its image. That doesn’t justify any of the racist bullshit we deal with, and it doesn’t reflect on you as a person (at least, I hope not–Northern Europe, where my ancestors were from, was also a tribal war-torn hellhole for most of history, until the Roman Empire came in and knocked some sense into it).

Africa is a big chunk of land. So is Europe; so is Asia. We use them as racial markers only because people from those areas look kind-sorta-similar. But they are all different groups with different histories. I can’t claim the Renaissance any more than most people of African descent in North America can claim algebra, etc. So let’s not muddy the issue, eh?

And it’s awfully sad that for some people, the only source of pride is co-opting the achievements of ancient cultures, attributing them to some fantasy version of ancient Egypt and claiming that fantasy culture “invented math and writing” while simultaneously minimizing the achievements of other cultures.

Now who’s racist?

“I am a person with black skin and also a reader of your newspaper. I would like to join others who have voiced their disgust in saying that your newspaper has shown a total lack of respect to people of color.

Unfortunately, you have decided not to print an apology. I guess you are aware that printing an apology would confirm to your many readers that you have on your staff journalists who are prejudice towards people of color.

Please consider a quote from Theodore Roosevelt who said “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing” Do something, and apologize.”

Any thoughts?

What a shameful depiction. If the Globe and Mail is attempting to represent Black culture, they should first attempt to understand Blacks on a whole. These types of displays only seek to promote stereotyping, and thus add to the difficulties Blacks continue to have to encounter.

Absolutely shameful!!!! I guess next week, the Globe and Mail will be displaying an image of a lynching while White’s yell out ‘Sup Dog!”

Significantly Disgusted,

Samantha

Then again, I’m not easily offended.

I won’t say that people shouldn’t feel the way they do about the cartoon (‘deeply offended’ seems to be the general sentiment), but I will say that this kind of hysteria is frankly unwarranted.

We get it, racist and ethnic jokes = bad…
Outrage is hardly necessary, however, and only serves to overblow the issue whilst contributing to an underlying tension over political correctness that I find unbearable as it is.

We’re overblowing the problem here — I think that the more seriously people take such things, the more it reflects a (subconscious?) belief that there is an underlying truth to racist stereotypes.
The ‘PC’ movement is misguided in seeking to bury these aforementioned stereotypes as if they were forbidden truths. It does this in an apparent drive to create some sort of utopia where everyone, regardless of differences, falls into the exact same mould. Cultural, historical and geographical qualities and traits are ignored and everyone, coloured in indeterminate shades of beige, holds hands and sings Kumbayah.

Let’s not take things so seriously, please.

Who would think this is funny? Only a narrow minded person would think a black teacher who cannot talk properly and does not know algebra is funny in relation to segregated schools.

I am also disappointed in the non-apology to Mr. Oliver from Syliva Stead of the Globe & Mail. There is no broader context involved, it is just the publication of the opinion of a bigot and it disappoints me that the Globe & Mail would publish it. This editorial cartoon does not stir debate but spreads racism keeping it alive. The publication of such an offensive cartoon makes me wonder if this is the opinion of the owners and employees of the Globe & Mail. Is this a publication for me to avoid and recommend boycotting due to their lack of sensitivity to the issues that face the black community in Canada?

Truly disappointed,
D. Grey