Is the new Vogue Cover more Questions and Answers?

It seems that many are on the ropes attempting to figure out the implications behind the new Vogue cover with LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen. He is apparently striking a pose, that is primal and she is standing there like a happy damsel in distress. So what is the big fuss? Many are debating the nature of the image and what it is sending out to the consumer.

As reported on AZ Central, by way of the associated press, stating, the "image is stirring up controversy, with some commentators decrying the photo as perpetuating racial stereotypes. James strikes what some see as a gorilla-like pose, baring his teeth, with one hand dribbling a ball and the other around Bundchen's tiny waist."

Some are likening it to "King Kong," that is a far stretch, but does it resemble that? However my question stands as this, is the probing implications, implying that Africans and African Americans still appear to be ape like sub humans roaming the earth? One lady stated, "It conjures up this idea of a dangerous black man," said Tamara Walker, 29, of Philadelphia.

However Megan K. Scott of the AP went on to write more on the topic.

"Photographer Annie Leibovitz shot the 6-foot-9 NBA star and the 5-foot-11 Brazilian model for the cover and an inside spread. Vogue spokesman Patrick O'Connell said the magazine "sought to celebrate two superstars at the top of their game" for the magazine's annual issue devoted to size and shape."

"We think Lebron James and Gisele Bundchen look beautiful together and we are honored to have them on the cover," Patrick stated.

So they went even further to dig into what the subjects of the shoot had to say and
James told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer he was pleased with the cover, saying he was "just showing a little emotion." Also going on to say, "Everything my name is on is going to be criticized in a good way or bad way," James told the paper. "Who cares what anyone says?"


However an analyst has a different take on this. Magazine analyst Samir Husni believes the photo was deliberately provocative, adding that it "screams King Kong." Considering Vogue's influential history, he said, covers are not something that the magazine does in a rush.
"So when you have a cover that reminds people of King Kong and brings those stereotypes to the front, black man wanting white a woman, it's not innocent," he said.

Of course at this point, O'Connell, the Vogue spokesman decline any further comments. Which makes you think about what they originally sought to portray when doing this photo. In most cases all parties involved in doing this, are not innocent of what has taken place. The idea behind the concepts appear to be 100% banking on the idea that it would raise eyebrows. However some parts of the party may have had an agenda that was far beyond something that the subjects would have agreed to. Photographers are artist and they know that art is open to interpretations that at times do not speak the same language that was spoken in the art. It make you think if Picasso was here to tell us what he felt or Leonardo was able to tell us to shut up about the Mona Lisa, and furthering his point with an explanation our ideas would be worthless.

Although this is not the end of the debate and I am sure that the water cooler, the student union, and your local coffee shop will be buzzing for some time over this. Here is some more from the story.

One has went on to say; what this looks like "images of black male athletes as aggressive and threatening" also that they "reinforce the criminalization of black men," said Damion Thomas, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at University of Maryland.

But others say the image show James' game face - nothing more. And they note that Bundchen hardly looks frightened. Which she does not at all! "James is a huge, black beautiful masculine statue and Gisele is a feminine, sexy gorgeous doll," said Christa Thomas, 36, a black account supervisor in Los Angeles.

"I didn't see any kind of racist overtone to it," she said. "I still don't. I think there is such a hypersensitivity to race still in this country." Husni said it is too soon to know how the magazine is selling, though the controversy could increase sales as people rush out to get a "collector's edition."

If nothing else, Walker said the cover underscores the need for a more diverse workplace.

"If more people of color worked for Vogue in positions of editorial authority, perhaps someone in the room might have been able to read the image the way so many of us are reading it now, and had the power to do something about it," she said.

At this point it is apparent what racism consist of, and is based largely on, misconceptions that turn into lies, which end up being some unproven law. There was a time when they said that African American athletes has no athletic ability, now they say that is all that they are good at. Soon it would be that they are the best doctors and lawyers but have not social skills. Sounds crazy, well with the way things are going it will always be one crazy thing or another, like the lie that white men could not jump. Don't Believe the hype and take the time out to allow each man his own merits. I would like to agree with Barack Obama on the fact that the race issue needs to be discussed in an open forum. Hiding behind lies, and fear is going to eat this county alive from within. We are all brothers and sisters and this land belongs to every man and women that can stand patriotic and to help the nation grow as a stronger country over its current status.

I want to know what you think of this. Please leave your comments, I want to dig into this further and your opinions allows me to shed more light into the dynamic of race in America and why questions always find themselves around the African American Elite and the average African American and people of color.