Obama Ugly Slave Tee: "But It's Not About Race"

In the wake of the flap that followed the New Yorker's intended satirical cover art last week, a shock anti-Obama t-shirt has made news. The shirt raises questions about whether the provocative message it bears is ironic or just plain ugly. The designer makes no bones, however, about his intent.

Apollo Braun is selling the shirt emblazoned with the words "Obama Is My Slave" from his Manhattan boutique. The shirt was designed by Braun.

According to blogsite livesteez, Braun claims the shirt does not reflect his views but those of "ordinary WASPS."

"For a lot of people, when they see Obama, they see a slave. People think America is not ready for a black President," he said.

Braun says he believes Obama is Muslim and that Obama also "reminds [him] of Adolf Hitler." "I can't stand Obama," says Braun, although he adds that none of his dislike for the candidate has anything to do with ethnicity.

Braun and his shirt made news when graduate student Nathanaeli Nassimi bought one of the $69 "slave" shirts and was wearing it as she walked through Union Square last week. Four African-American teenage girls took notice . According to Metro, the girls cursed at Nassimi about the shirt, shoved her, pulled out her earphones and spit in her face.

Nassimi has now decided to sue Braun. Braun's lawyer assures him that he has nothing to worry about, that the First Amendment protects his right to make the shirt and Nassimi's right to wear it.

Braun has designed and sold other anti-Obama shirts. The slogans he has used on those shirts have included "Jews Against Obama" "Obama = Hitler" and "Who Killed Obama?"

Follow Earnest Harris on Twitter: www.twitter.com/earnestharris

Comments

[MagisterLudi]

Anyway, whats with you Americans and Dumbo-eared politicians: First Bush now Obama.

[NatteringNabobs]

Troll

[unhipcat]

She paid $69 for THAT?

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

There's a sucker born every minute. - P.T. Barnum

[Mykel]

Apollo Braun? "Jews Against Obama?" Oh, that's rich.

Well, if he's a supporter of Israel, then I would like to know how he squares that support with his own blatant bigotry toward African-Americans and Muslims, being that supporters constantly complain that Israel and/or Jews are just innocent victims of attacks and bigotry.

[pfc1369]

Mykel, Myfriend:

Your post is what we call "incoheren­t."

[Mykel]

Why? Because I find it blatantly hypocritical to peddle racist, anti-black t-shirts emblazoned with the phrase "Jews Against Obama"?

[AliHajiSheik]

This guy is a fraud. He made up the story about that girl buying the shirt and getting beaten up. He is looking for, and manufactured, controversy. Story shouldn't even be reprinted here, he's a phony and a clownshoe and his website looks like a 12 year old pooped on their myspace page.

[NTO08]

Just like the Huffpo blogger who tossed out these charges, let's see the evidence of this...cle­arly the guy is out for publicity, although he sure as hell picked a strange way to get it....

[Gina322]

Ummm, is he wearing lipstick?

[NTO08]

And that would be a problem how?

Trading racism for homophobia­...equally contemptible!

[tasukibeth1]

I'm an ordinary WASP who thinks this guy needs a steel-pointed boot up his *ss.

[redstateblue]

Ironic or just plain ugly? I'm a redneck Southern WASP. Believe me when I say, it's just plain ugly racist hatred.

[ouroborous]

The fact that some people are racists isn't really news. Some people also believe that the CIA is beaming thoughts into their heads; there are always nutjobs, if you look hard enough.

In fact, the relentless pounding of news that insinuates that if you don't approve of Obama, it must be because you're a racist -- is, in itself, slightly racist.

I will be voting for Obama in November, but not in spite of -- or BECAUSE of -- the color of his skin.

[StillIRise]

Thank God for people like you!

[NTO08]

Voting for him because of his race: WRONG
Voting against him because of his race: WRONG
Voting against him because of his positions: RIGHT

[JoyceBains]

Don't know if you've heard yet, but the "vicious black girls jumped a poor non-black girl just for her t-shirt" story isn't even true. Nothing but a publicity stunt.

http://gawker.com/5027320/source-metro-editor-fired-for-obama-is-my-slave-publicity-stunt-story

[NTO08]

The evidence is not in this link...har­d and fast evidence of its falsity will only suffice.

[Celldumceen]

How does this guy get away with this crap in the middle of liberal multi-cultural New York? I live in New York, I think I am going to pay this guy a visit!

[dogman44]

Good show. Please smack him one for me too. I'd do it myself but i'm in New Mexico and can't
afford to travel very far anymore.

[Aabby]

Bigotry and hatred are so ugly.

[NTO08]

Get ready for a heaping dose of it when the results come in in November..­.

America has not become a multicultural playground, nor will it be soon.

[aftershock]

"although he adds that none of his dislike for the candidate has anything to do with ethnicity.­"

Riiigghhht­tt....

[DyslexicPalindrome]

I've lived all over the world and I gotta say that the things white people are able to get away with in this country and the West in general, continue to amaze me.
They probably shouldn't.­..but they do.

[ndifference]

Is this Eva's great grandson?

[MsLiz]

This article ran last week.

[smags72]

Some of us had not seen it. What is your point?