The New York Post and Sean Delonas have done it again. This time, Delonas, who draws the editorial cartoon that appears with the daily’s Page Six gossip column, depicted two police officers standing over the body of a dead monkey. One officer’s gun is smoking after just being fired.

The other officer says: “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”

Without that caption,  the cartoon would be pretty innocuous considering that in Connecticut Monday, a pet chimp was killed by local officers after maiming a friend of its owner.

The cartoon isn’t clever. It is simply offensive, racist, and totally uncalled for. Delonas, who is known to push the envelope with some of his cartoons, has pushed it right off a cliff. (For his many homophobic cartoons in 2008, GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, named Delonas one of its worst offenders.)

There is no misinterpreting this cartoon. Before folks over at the “No Spin Zone” — yes, I’m calling you out Bill O’Reilly and your colleagues at Fox News — say I and others are overreacting to a harmless satire, let’s analyze the cartoon.

Congressional Democrats under the leadership of President Barack Obama wrote the stimulus bill. The bill is being viewed by many observers as Obama’s bill. The officer refers to the dead chimp, which is lying in a pool of its own blood, as the author of the stimulus bill. This cartoon plays into the racist stereotype of depicting blacks as monkeys.

You see, this is why we must ignore calls to end Black History Month. Certainly, this country elected an African American president, but as this ignorant cartoon painfully illustrates, there is still a long way to go for full and complete equality.

Of course, the Rev. Al Sharpton has weighed in on the mess, accusing the New York Post of racism. “The cartoon in today’s New York Post is troubling at best, given the historic racist attacks of African Americans as being synonymous with monkeys,” wrote Rev. Al Sharpton, a crusader of civil rights. “One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual reference to this. … Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama (the first African American president) and has become synonymous with him, it is not a reach to wonder, ‘Are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?’ ”

Col Allan, editor-in-chief of the New York Post, issued the following statement in response to the cartoon and Sharpton: “The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington’s efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist.”

I would like to think that Attorney General Eric Holder’s comments at the Department of Justice’s African American History month program were in response to the Post cartoon, but the reality is his speech was likely prepared in advance. Regardless, it sounds to me like he was addressing Allen and Delonas with this sentence: “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.” He went on to add: “Though race related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race. It is an issue we have never been at ease with and given our nation’s history this is in some ways understandable. And yet, if we are to make progress in this area we must feel comfortable enough with one another, and tolerant enough of each other, to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us.”

Bravo, Holder!

The NAACP also weighed in on the controversy, in a statement that was about the same length as the Post‘s.  “We are saddened that the New York Post chose to create a symbol that is so divisive, insensitive and antithetical to that goal,” said Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the civil rights organization that is celebrating its 100-year anniversary. “The NY Post must do better.”

As far as I’m concerned, either the New York Post, which did not endorse Obama for president, is equating the 44th president of the U.S. as a monkey, or I need a humor transplant.

Sean Delonas didn’t return a call seeking comment.

Deborah Creighton Skinner is the editorial director at BlackEnterprise.com.

(Un)Common: The rapper, the poet, the actor, the author. (Image: Courtesy of Subject)

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. is anything but ordinary. Even with adopting the moniker Common, the Windy City’s award-winning rapper spread his hip hop gospel about everything from socio, eco and politico issues to how he used to love h.e.r with an ease that was anything but…common. As his music fans eagerly anticipate his next album, The Dreamer, The Believer (scheduled for release in December) Common, the actor, is quickly becoming a marquee fave starring opposite screen gems such as Taraji P. Henson, Queen Latifah and Angelina Jolie. And in his latest endeavor as an author, he’s sharing his life’s journey in his New York Times best-selling tome, One Day It Will All Make Sense (Simon & Schuster), hailed as a “magnificent memoir” by Dr. Maya Angelou.

Blackenterprise.com talked to the busy lyricist about why he thinks his book resonates with readers, love lessons learned from relationships with Erykah Badu and Serena Williams, and his plans to make one lil’ golden man an integral part of his future.

Blackenterprise.com: Congrats on becoming a New York Times best-selling author. Why do you think your story has been so well-received?

Common: The book is honest and people can relate to a lot of my experiences and what I have gone through in life. You don’t have to be from the south side of Chicago to relate. Everyone goes through love, a heart break, being ridiculed, feeling insecure or trying to reach that moment when you really believe in yourself.

After completing your book, was there anything you changed or thought about omitting?

On the real, after I wrote it I didn’t read it too much. I said what I said and let it go. Sometimes you ask yourself if you should revise your thoughts. I didn’t want to have that feeling of, Awww man, maybe I shouldn’t have said that because people might think this or that of me. If you think wrong of me then that’s something I’d have to accept. What I wrote were my first thoughts and that’s the way I wanted it to remain: authentic.

At one moment in your life, you were often perceived by others as a Mama’s Boy. Do you agree?

I wasn’t that much of a Mama’s Boy. In many ways, as young man, what I knew about most were women because my mom is a very important piece of my life. Although I was doing other things, I still was influenced by my mother because that’s what happens when you grow up and don’t have your father there. Even with my stepfather, I didn’t connect with him enough to be able to take in what he was saying. I definitely felt I had to establish who I was.

Which chapter of your book resonates most with you?

My open letter to [my ex-girlfriend, singer] Erykah [Badu] is a chapter in my life that resonates with me. It was a time of reflection. I learned a lot about Rashid Lynn when I was with Erykah. During our relationship, I often chose to think, I’ll chill and let other people get their way, because that’s just who I was in all of my relationships with friends and family. I’d choose to take a [backseat], and getting to see that in myself while she and I were together was enlightening. I eventually realized I don’t need to be that person. I learned to speak my mind and be the man I’m supposed to be. It was a release.

Continue reading on next page

Just Right: Common and Serena Williams at the 'Just Wright' wrap party in 2009 (Image: Getty)

What lessons did you learn while dating tennis great Serena Williams?

As far as me being in love, I’ve learned to just be myself—more of a man—in any relationship, whether I was dating Serena or whomever. Finally, I feel I’m able to be me and really know what I want and make steps toward those things that are special to me. Like I want children, I want to have a home, I should be starting a family. One difference between Erykah and Serena was that the [presence of] paparazzi is much stronger now than it was in 2000 and 2001. Serena’s a super international star and my profile [when we were] together was a [big deal] for some people. I remember when I made the cover of the Chicago Sun Times for the first time it was in the middle of our relationship and I’m thinking, This is for real. People are paying attention. But I handle [the attention] the way real men do: Keep family and personal business in your home. Now, that doesn’t mean if that’s your woman you go out with her and not feel proud about [being with] her [like it's a big secret]; but you don’t have to let everyone know what’s going on in your relationship.

Even with living under a microscope, you’ve excelled in your music and film careers, even making it to the White House despite Fox News coining you a “gangster rapper.” How did you combat the negativity?

That was a monumental moment for me to recite poetry at White House for the first Black president and the first lady. I wondered if [the Fox News report] affect my participation, but once I was reassured that I was going to be able to go to the White House, I was honored. The crazy thing is Fox News knew who I was and did a story on me a few years ago saying I was a positive and good artist. Then later on down the line you have Bill O’Reilly saying I’m not. It makes you wonder: Are they even communicating with one another? I’m not here to pick them apart. I just really thought, they don’t know who I am and they are trying to bring Obama down and it’s not working.

What’s the most sound business advice you’ve received?

To save as much money as possible, spend wisely and always observe and surround yourself with intelligent people who have goals.

Make sense. Now what’s this we hear about you playing a slave?

(Laughs) It’s [a TV show] called Hell on Wheels and airs on AMC [Sundays, 10pm EST]. It deals with issues of the transcontinental railroad set in 1865, and I play a freed slave rebel. We address issues that are relevant today—relationship drama, racial injustice and how greed affects us.

As you look to the future, what is your five-year plan?

To be married, have a family, own a television production company, become a Hollywood leading man, own homes in L.A. and New York (well, I have that, but more), keep my foundation Common Ground more elevated and…oh yeah, win an Oscar.

See a clip from Common’s new show, Hell on Wheels, airing this Sunday, below.

Sybrina Fulton, mother to slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin, recently made an appearance on Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor, alongside her legal counsel Benjamin Crump. During the interview, host Bill O’Reilly questioned Fulton about her thoughts on the case thus far and praised her for asking concerned supporters to focus on the case and not race. Although Fulton expressed relief in knowing that her son’s killer, George Zimmerman, was finally arrested after a 46-day delay, she revealed that she has faith in the judicial system and will accept the final verdict regardless of the outcome. Watch the full interview below.