Raccoons at White House: America Still Waits for Post-Racism

  It's a news story that has bigots jumping up and down in glee. Actually, it's not really a news story, or a new story, except in how the news media is using it. Normally it would be a short sidebar article -- or merely a photograph, with the story told in the cutline. Many in the media, recognizing the presence of inherent double-entendre and innuendo, wouldn't print it in any form.

ETHICS IN JOURNALISM

This is really an ethics story about journalists.

The overt facts: a family of raccoons has been found on White House grounds. The National Park Service has been unable to capture and remove the creatures.

The reporting by the news media appears to have started with Michael D. Shear of The Washington Post. In his oh-so-cute and unethical story, Shear says things like:

"The presidential raccoons appear to have upgraded to fancier digs."

Shear also quotes a raccoon-trapper who says the National Park Service is probably using the wrong cages or the wrong bait:

"See, their cages probably don't smell right. They probably don't have the smell of other raccoons on'em."

If you're totally naive and don't know the historical significance of the word "raccoon," or are merely in denial because you don't want it to be racist, then it is just a cute story. (The cute photo, right, is a tea party with pet dog and pet raccoon. This is a picture of innocence and naivety.)

However, if you're a news reporter, particularly a national correspondent covering the White House, then this article is an egregious example of personal racism. And when you realize that the story was read by a number of editors before it was published, you must ask if it wasn't an example of institutional racism. The Washington Post being the institution.

This is how racists operate. They feign innocence and wide-eyed shock that anyone could think that the story was racist. The blame belongs to the perceiver, they say: "Well, that just shows where your mind is, not mine." Puhleez!

ETHICS VERSUS BIGOT CODE

Raccoon, or coon, is bigot code for a Black person. It's one of the most insulting and dehumanizing of all anti-Black caricatures. C'mon, who doesn't know this? (See the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia.)

Oops! I just found out that the Washington Post has gone back and CHANGED the title of their on-line story. When I went to get the permalink of the story, I found the title was changed from "Raccoons Invade White House Grounds" on February 5th to "Masked Intruders Roaming the White House Grounds" on February 6th. Sounds like the paper is well aware of what it said and got called on it.

And then there's the Los Angeles Times with its headline "Raccoons take up residence at the White House." Of course the LA Times made sure to reference Michael Shear.

This kind of news reportage gives bigots an incentive for action, exhorting them to bring their racism  out into the open. Reporters need to stop the pretense, accept accountability and know that they will be challenged by their peers and the public.

COMMENTS SHOW ETHICS NEED

All you have to do to realize the effects of this kind of story is read the Comments submitted online, following the Washington Post article. Following are some examples and ethical concerns:

• .....I believe this article has a hidden agenda and Mr. Michael D. Shear understands. In the future, I would encourage historical reviews of racial terms used to describe Blacks. The term "coon," (short for raccoon) is definitely offensive because of such use. As an Army veteran, I am hurt by this article and mainly because African Americans have contributed so much to society and interesting how we are repeatedly belittled.

.....It is appalling to see the kind of tasteless reactions this article has produced - clearly they should be removed.

.....As an African-American,I am in shock that Mr. Michael Shear had the audacity to write this story within 2 weeks into Barrack's presidency...it is clear that Mr. Shear's story is filled with blatant racial undertones! A senior level individual from the Washington Post should apologize for allowing such a story to be printed. I expect journalism that is objective and 'newsworthy' -- not riddled with racial epithets!

.....Some of the ignorant comments listed clearly depict how much further we are away from the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

.....I am so bitter and angry that people are trying to make this seem like something that is cute...this is an rovian ploy to bring racial discourse into President Obama's glowing public persona.

The remaining examples give you an idea of how bigots felt they had permission (because of the article) to respond and that their belief that their comments would not be edited out by the Washington Post were correct:

• Maybe the Secret Service spotted them and they spotted little Malia and Sashawan and thought "coons."

• Look in the Oval Office -- they will find a big and extremely ugly one.

• You mean "Rosebud" and "Radiance?"

TO READ "Great White Hope: Metaphor for Racist Kansas Politician" CLICK HERE.

TO READ "Hatemongers Exploit Racial Fears Since Obama Election,"  CLICK HERE.

TO READ "Kansas Church Marquee: Obama Muslim President a Sin" CLICK HERE.

TO READ "N.Y. Post's Racist Cartoon: Cops Assassinate Chimp Symbol of Obama" CLICK HERE.

By Sharon McEachern