Uncovered: Possible Inspiration For Controversial LeBron James Vogue Cover

Ever since Vogue put basketball star LeBron James on its cover — only the third man, and the first African American man, to gain that distinction — the cover has sparked discussion. Critics have slammed Vogue for "perpetuating racial stereotypes," depicting the "dangerous black man" running off with a beautiful white woman (model Gisele Bundchen).

Now, Sportsfilter blogger Rogers Cadenhead (via Portfolio.com's Jeff Bercovici) uncovered a possible (likely) inspiration for the Annie Liebovitz shoot: a famous World War I recruitment poster from 1917.

The poster, which shows a gorilla and says "Destroy This Brute," would seem to justify any sort of outrage over the racial stereotypes perpetuated by the Vogue cover.

What do you think?

Comments

[kellygrrrl]

that's disgusting and really irresponsible!

[rudiy]

I am sure Annie did not mean this to be racist. But if you find her a racist, this is only one snippet and you must look at all her work. Oop! Thought we were speaking of Reverand Wright.

[TIMEATELL]

What makes you so sure? Do you know her?

[pepenero]

It's clever, humorous, satirical, and overall just plain fun, everyone involved had fun, but a large portion of the audience seems to feel this racist, which it is, of course, not..

[LeftLeanWing]

What is or What Isn't considered 'racist' or 'racial' or 'offensive' is in the eye of the beholder. I'm sure for decades most considered the rag-headed shiny bejowled black woman on the pancake box was just fine and the fact that she was called 'Aunt' was warm and endearing.­.

So it's O.K. for you to state that this image does not appear to be racist TO YOU.
I could accept and understand that. However for you to dismiss the feelings of others because it's not YOU being stereotyped is troubling.


Mrs Butterworth

[philipwitak]

re: "...Sports­filter blogger Rogers Cadenhead.­..uncovere­d a possible (likely) inspiration for the Annie Liebovitz shoot: a famous World War I recruitment poster from 1917...whi­ch shows a gorilla and says 'Destroy This Brute,'...­What do you think?"

I think its absolutely disgusting that, in this country, at this point in our history - considering all we have endured, black and white alike - that anyone is still mucking around with these sorts of inflamatory insinuations. Cadenhead claims to have 'found' this image, but i have seen several others too; in addition to those associated with 'King Kong' and 'Beauty and the Beast.' Vintage photos depicting large, menacing apes or humanesque creatures dominating attractive, young, scantily-clad women.

Those I have referenced here are all images from another time, reflecting another sort of mentality and in that regard, I suppose they all share some sort of historical significance. But if we are, or truly wish to be, considered part of an enlightened society, then we must recognize that anyone suggesting any sort of interchangeable equity between great apes and dark-skinned humans has once again crossed over the line of common decency.

They should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

And we should be thoroughly ashamed of them.

[Xiexie]

This is ridiculous.

[julescator]

I love this picture. Since we all know these two people, I think it's great. I see nothing sisnister in it.

Now if they had LaBron holding a gun to her head - not that would be another story and a racist one!

[TheCyclist]

No one will read this - too late in the game. Okay, I see lots of black men with white women (and the reverse). Would recording this in a photo perpetuate a racist image? Can we only take photos of black men and black women? Should we stop taking pictures of black men, particularly atheletes, because they are muscled? I see a provocative picture, but not a racist image. I'm all for black men and white women, and white men and black women and every mix of race being depicted in photos that might imply romance and sexuality. We need a world where we embrace, literally, our diversity.

[MNDADDY]

Republicans will do worse to Obama and pastor Wright in the Fall. ;(

[noamjunior]

Of courseLebron could have stood up stright - and have his head cut out of the picture because his chest at head level with the model
that would look real good

[MadFae]

Again, I ask you, is it not racist to say that LeBron James looks like a big black gorilla? Everyone seems to think it's a natural comparison. "Oh, look at the Vogue cover, he looks just like King Kong!" What? Also, he is not "running of with" Gisele. She looks thrilled. He's not dragging her. This is very apparently a "beauty and the beast take" or a "testosterone vs estrogen" take, or even a "violence vs peace" take, but all you twits can see is a big scary black man holding a frail white woman. Wake up! You are perpetuating this nonsense.

[sstoeffler]

The resemblance between the two seems awfully close, but don't forget that the poster is almost an archetypal image. You can find any number of comic book/sci-fi mag/pulp novel covers with similar images of an alien/monster/wild beast and a helpless, fainting human female. The difference is that on the magazine cover, they're both having fun.

[diamndpeace]

It speaks to racism and is thus inseparably linked with it. Times have changed, and yet, not nearly as much as we'd like to think. At least the emperor is wearing clothes.

[degjack]

Told ya'.

All she had to do was pair him with a beautiful, black supermodel­...and there is no issue.
Why didn't that occur to her?
There are none? if not, why not?

[who38]

There are many and they are in high demand, both in the U.S. and Europe. Every heard of Tyra Banks or Naomi Campbell?

[coloradosiren]

I would like to hear from old enough, astute enough Annie what she intended to convey.

[wadenelson1]

I actually think its a waay cool picture. Frankly, I fail to see any racist overtones, hidden messages, doorbells, Studebakers, or anything else.