Jeff Danziger - Allegations of Racist Cartoons

Allegations of Racist Cartoons

When Condoleezza Rice was nominated to be U.S. Secretary of State, Danzinger put together a cartoon that was critical of Rice where he used racial stereotypes concerning the look and speech of African Americans. Danzinger was criticized by the National Black Republican Association who stated that Danzinger "depicted Dr. Rice as an ignorant, barefoot "mammy," reminiscent of the stereotyped black woman in the movie Gone with the Wind who remarked: "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies.'"

In October 2005, Danzinger published a cartoon in the Rutland Herald depicting a scientist unearthing a roulette wheel at an Abenaki archaeological site. Examining the “artwork” carefully one finds in very small print "Sweat Lodge Casino." The portrayal of Indians as casino operators outraged Native Americans across the country. This cartoon served to highlight a larger part of Indian portrayal in the media. "Publishers of newspapers think it's OK to mock and offend Indians, they say, 'How could this possibly be racist, we're only kidding.' The institution of media is in denial about promoting racism. In fact, they don't even notice."