Is Vogue's April cover of Gisele and LeBron racist?

Vogue is catching a lot of heat over the magazine's historic April cover couple, LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen.

Apparently some folks think it's a great shot (by Annie Leibovitz) of a top basketball player doing what he does best -- dribbling a ball -- and a supermodel doing what she does best -- posing with a good-looking man. 

Others complain that the cover conveys blatant racial and sexual stereotypes by showing an angry black man with a helpless white woman.

Others ask why we are even noticing race at all.

What do you see? And what do you think?

Oh, and you might want to CLICK HERE to read the Vogue cover story on the couple, who are at their top of their respective games, which may -- or may not -- help explain the cover photo.

Photos: Vogue

Comments

[Renee]

That picture's rad!

[AJ]

I see a great photo and two great bodies. I didn't think of race until you mentioned it...

[blacknews]

If you put this picture next to the one of King Kong and Jane like I did on my site, yes Lebron does look like King Kong.
http://www.blacknews4us.com/

[Frank]

This cover is not a good picture, not due to race but it just doesn't look good. It's make it look as if labron is cray and gesille is not comfortable.

[Sabrina]

I was actually more offended by the first headline that excludes anyone above size 16. The picture itself looks as dumb as any other Vogue cover.

[Breeze Summers]

As an African American Male born in the 60's. I think this cover really shows the progression in our society. I cheer Vogue for making such a fashion statement, not a racist statement.

[Christina]

I'm just glad it's not like ALL THE OTHER Vogue covers: Skinny girl, popped hip, pretty dress. Skinny girl, popped hip, pretty dress.

[Doug]

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. LeBron's growling because he's competitive. He's certainly NOT angry. And Gisele's smiling.

[Blue in Mineapolis]

My wife immediately saw LeBron as King Kong. I just saw an angry, if well-known, basketball player, quite oversized too. We were both curious about the relationship that the photographer was trying to capture and convey? The two cover figures are clearly not a couple. He is angry, tense. She is a little lost, smiling and grimacing at the same time. We couldn't figure out the menaing of it all. On that score, it's curious, very, and a plain failure.

[Eliza]

I see a great athlete representing what he does on the court, and I see a famous supermodel posing for a cover. It's not a racist cover and let's not make more out of it than what it really is - 2 people posing for a cover. If you want to see racist stereotypes, turn on the TV.

[Amalone]

I have no idea where race comes in at. It's just a picture of two celebrities. Come on I'm black and saw this on Fox News channel.

[Jenny B.]

I'm personally offended that people find this photograph offensive. You can find something racist or sexist in just about anything if you concentrate hard enough. Would it be better if LeBron and Gisele were just standing there in drab clothing, showing no emotion at all like Grant Wood's painting, "American Gothic"? We should celebrate our differences, our emotions, our passions. We shouldn't hide them. I'm sure Gisele and LeBron didn't get to where they are today by being quiet and demure!

[Jose S.]

Look at the Vogue cover

look at this WWI propaganda poster

http://web.mala.bc.ca/davies/H482.WWI/poster.US.DestroyThisMadBrute.jpg

Look Similar?

[photoNeuron]

Prople don't actually see the picture; they see their
past experiences and
biases, which is natural.
anyway, the female seems tilted away, as if
trying to pull away. The
male doesn't seem angry - he just seems to be posing.
This photo just seems to be a standard choco/vanilla cover shot.
However, I do like the photoshoppy clinginess of the female's threads.

[Marilyn]

This is a wonderful photo. It's just great photograpy, artfully done! It's exciting to see such a cover. Those who see otherwise are left behind, somewhere back in the 1960s -seeing racism that just isn't there.

[Jeremy B]

WTF??????? I see good basketball player showing emotion, intensity maybe, and a supermodel laughing, most helpless women aren't laughing or happy looking. come on people you want prejudice and racism to stop then you need to stop pointing out stupid crap like this.

[Pat Geiger]

What's the matter with these idiots that are talking trash about this cover? It's a beautiful picture of two beautiful people. This is 2008 - not - 1950. If you don't like the picture go back to the Ozarks.

[MIa]

Imagine he was white - the cover would not be shot like this!

[Linda]

I like Lebron's photo - but the model doesn't look real - I think they should have picked someone else to be in the photo with Lebron

[Joe]

I'm not seeing it. He's tall, he has to crouch a little maybe, the photographer has him dribble a ball. He's a basketball player. It looks like he's being energetic and goofy, the way most of the black guys I know are. He looks cute, even if the picture's kind of angled in a peculiar way.
And she's laughing up a storm, which is something you'd expect since he's being fun and frisky.
Okay, it's not a cover-worthy composition, but go over to Flikr.com and look for something similar. Believe me, you'll find something very close, especially since tall men do tend to date short women.

[Q]

The truth of the matter is that people see what they want to see. If you are constantly looking through the magnifying glass for racism and bigotry, you are as closed minded as the people who convey racism and bigotry. Somethings are meant to be taken at face value!! This cover has the same credibility as a political statement from a country musician!!

[Nika]

As a well-established magazine, you should be aware of the racially loaded implications of this photo - that said, it's powerful, playful, and full of allusions to everything from racial stereotyping to Beauty & the Beast. Perhaps we need to be better consumers, not reactionaries.

[Patto]

A photojournalist certainly is aware of what her picture will remind people of. If not, then she's a lousy photographer, which may be the case here. More likely they just didn't choose the best shot.

It is NOT a great photograph. See how clumsy they look? They are close and touching but look how they are touching. His hand around her is awkward, her feet inside his are clearly unnatural. There's no "relationship" between them within the picture. He's not in a typically athletic stance. She's caught in the middle of what looks like trying to get away from him, but trying to not hurt his feelings by doing so. It's so posed, and so distracted by those annoying headlines, that it has mixed messages which aren't interesting at all.

[Mickey]

crazy just freakin nuts
someone is always finding something wrong with everything.
the picture is of LaBron doing what he loves posing in his basketball state of mind and Gisele posing playfully. No King Kong or Fay here except for the simpleminded idiot
Oh by the way I take offense.....haha
I am in the Ozarks
now I'm gonna make a big deal about the, "Go Back to the Ozarks" comment......NOT!!

[Nate]

This photo is no problem to those of us with education, maturity, and a certain degree of common sence. However the young, and uneducated, who believe the world owes "me", may not be able to see through it. The controversy will only spread to those who would not seek the magazine in the first place.

[rigel]

If Lebron were smiling instead of scowling, there would still be complaints. Some black women in this country have hangups about interracial relationships, particularly successful black men who date/marry white women. We still have a long way do go.

[EBONY WHITE]

OK-COME ON NOW PEOPLE!!! Must we poke and prod at EVERYTHING!!!??? I am an African American woman (and yes that is my real name! lol) and I am so happy to see a Black, successful, man bring his A game to the cover of this magazine that has been around for forever!!! What is this Black & White thing we must feed into constantly!!!??? Like Rigel said, if Lebron had been smiling, there would still be complaints! I think the cover is simply beautiful and give mad props to Lebron for doing his thing!!! (YOU GO LEBRON!!!) People, we need to put our emotions in a box, stop drinking so much HATERADE, & enjoy OUR lives!!! Be positive & I promise you will get it back! Ms. Gisele is a foxy, smart, business oriented woman, so I'm sure if she saw it as racist, she would have no parts in it. RELAX, BREATHE, ENJOY LIFE PEOPLE!!! I'M DONE!!! (And on my way to get the Vogue issue so I can frame the cover!!!:)

[BobCov]

When I read this I uncontrollably burst out laughing when I got to the word "racist." You have got to be joking. This is a picture of two people who are at the top of their game doing what they do.
Maybe Shaq should try to intimidate his opponents with a model's smile and Gisele should model clothes with a professional athlete's ferocity. Would that be racist? Give me a break. Let's talk about the Iraq war. That's racism at it's finest.

[RA]

Funny, I just saw a North American and a South American. I wonder if Gisele has any of the racial hangups that we have in the US??

[Marlana]

I am an African-American woman who lives in Cleveland. As an educated, professional woman who loves to take pictures and also loves basketball, I actually like this cover very much. I too give mad props to LeBron for representing. First and foremost, he is representing his success, his team, his city, and most of all, progress. It is time we learn to laugh at the stereotypes even while we acknowledge that they still do exist. This cover is a wink-wink to those sterotypes. The famed photographer who took this shot is known for being controversial. I believe she intended to portray many layers of meaning in this shot. But if you stop for a moment and just enjoy the photo, you have to admit that it shows two people having fun on the cover of a world-class fashion magazine. I too say, "Go, LeBron!" I am so proud of you! Critics need to take a huge Chill Pill!

[Barone]

Not a great image from a photographer that use to be great! It does not flow or make you think that is nice. Lebron looks good, Gisele looks very lost and the interaction does not work what so ever.
Profiling either of them because of the image on his cover makes me think that people need to get a life. This is a fashion Mag!
Bottom line for me working with images every day is that "Leibovitz" has lost her
great raw feel for catching the moment with to big of productions! Maybe time to go back to the basic roots that made her great.

[Jennifer]

People are absolutely insane! Why does someone always need to bring "race" into things that clearly are not about "race"?! People need to grow up, move on into the 21st century with the rest of us, and get a life. I admire LeBron and what he has accomplished - and his face on the cover is no different than any other sports figure who is great at what he does when he does it. People try to read too much into things. I am a white female and I think the cover is fine.

[Kebaya]

Racism came to my mind after I read these remarks. But at first glace, I didn't think racism at all. Rather than saying that this is a racist photograph, I would say it's an awful photograph by a well-known photographer in a well-known fashion magazine.It doesn't scream Leibowitz ecxpecially Vogue.

[Rome161]

I'm a black male. I feel
Vogue exploited LeBron with this cover. I think Vogue and Anne Leibovitz wanted to portray Gisele and LeBron as Beauty and the Beast. They set up LeBron as King Kong and 21st Century mandingo. Black America is more concerned about Obama than LeBron. Like Michael Jordan, LeBron's primary concern is his publicity and endorsement deals rather than race issues.

[Phi Ghee]

LeBron James Vogue cover criticized - Yahoo! News
When Vogue announced its April cover starring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen, ... James told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer he was pleased with the cover, saying he ...
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080324/ap_en_ot/ fea_fashion_vogue_cover - 44k - Cached

LeBron James' 'Vogue' cover called racially insensitive - USATODAY.com
When Vogue announced its April cover starring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen E-mail | Save | Print |

yada,yada,yada

PEOPLE,people,people HOW LONG WILL YOU BE PLAYED and have your thought processes manipulated ?

No Vogue's cover is not racist but the media and websites that are have a good ole boy time, flashing the cover (supposedly alarmed ) are. Putting the idea in your head over and over again, that it is: in no less racist (yet more subtle) than the Klan's latest propaganda flyer.

PLANT A ROTTEN SEED MESSAGE AND GROW A RANCID TREE

Not everyone is a sucker for subliminal programing folks and don't you become one either, sir. You want a good example of everyday racism that gets ignored because it is oh so real and supposedly enlighten folks just don't want to admit to their inbred knee jerk activism: read my article below. And as for Blacks taking responsibility for their own misgivings, I don't pull any punches either, read:the attachments if you dare.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CAR HORN RACISM
For the past few years I have been trying to warn, or in the least, get America to reflect on the new trend of socially unacceptable behavior which is cursing our shores and reeks right out of the very root of racism; racial actions that are done subliminally and that are never addressed. Sadly to say, not only have my hue and cry of this cruel and insensitive epidemic of rude behavior not be taken up by the forces which may affect change (media, academia and, both religious and humanist secular concerns); the epidemic continues to grow unabated and has taken on such unnecessary and preposterous levels that the ethnos rising up against ethnos spoken of by Jesus in the bible, will most certainly not escape these shores.

Let us pray that episodes like the New Orleans debachle has become will of those crucial sparks that will ignite inner concious seaches and address instituional racism. However,my major focus and mission is to swat at those little sparks, the ones that surface each and every day in the life of a person of color (or should I say certain colors or degrees of hue thereof). As we should have learned from all the recent California brush fires, little sparks can be responsible for setting some major brush fires.

Along with a reprint of an article I wrote several years ago I will attempt to get the audience to take up observation of what’s happening out there in society in general and inspire them to reflect on their own actions as it relates to such material that I will present.

Case in Point:

Currently I live in a city in which the black population is 3% of the whole. The next few sentences is by no means an attempt to shift focus or blame on another racial group, it is merely presented as a fact for the particular city where I live.

I would have not put forth such a claim had I been writing this from Atlanta or Baltimore ( a city which I just spent two years in) or any other city where blacks (especially if there is a established underclass population present) represent a significant proportion of the population and do contribute to a major degree a the crime therein. Now returning to the city which I currently live, allow me to offer these facts:

. The overwhelming majority of car thefts in this city are perpetrated by those of Hispanic origin
. The overwhelming majority (if not all) the chop shops are operated by those of Hispanic origin
. Because of the close proximity of the Mexican border, the major of the cars stolen for resale end up in Mexican territory, commandeered by those of Hispanic origin.

YET, IT ONLY TAKES THE GLIMPSE OF A BLACK FACE AND THERE GOES THE SYMPHONY OF CAR ALARMS AND HORNS (P.S Folks most of us own vehicles too! We do know that you can lock the door without notifying the whole neighborhood).

RARELY have I seen such musical tribute being played on behalf of a Hispanic, odd isn't’t considering the aforementioned FACTS. In fact the only time I have seen it done was if the Hispanic happened to be so threatening in dress and manner or if he happened to be of such of dark complexion that he is mistaken for black, in such a case the reluctant vehicle owner might have to do the rude thing.

There is a game that I like to play. I like to sit out at an outdoor cafe or any other outdoors venue where arriving cars are being parked. I pick a spot where I am pretty much concealed from the arrives view. Funny! Unless another one of my dark brethren or aforementioned dark Hispanic passes by, there is no symphony. Imagine that, people get out of their cars without making mechanical noises. The symphony hall is quiet. Later I will change places and sit where I am visible. And guess what, “Whenever you are near, I hear a symphony”.
Earlier I spoke of this as a game but that is not entirely true. This is a personal assault on my dignity on my perceived worth as a human being, if ever there was one. How this new century behavior supposedly and more justified, genteel or warranted than the blatant verbal insults which whites had the permission to inflict on blacks all the the last century and right up until the civil rights movement?

Behavior such as this is unacceptable and every black who has to experience these insults to his presence, day in and day out is registering it; even if on a subconscious level.
And one day the levees of tolerance and dismissal will undoubtedly break?

This wake up call presented by Phillip Ghee
What Is Racism?

ARTICLE 2

How will speak for us?

I can't believe how many people, including intellectuals, who when attempting to define and lend solutions to the problem of race-relations, continuously miss the mark when attempting to document racism. It is either some overt racist act that will ignite their passion or the dissatisfying groans echoing from the daily struggle of inner-city life, to which their focus is drawn.

The subtle forms of racism are everywhere. You don't need studies and degrees to figure it out, all you need to do is use your common sense and open your eyes, leave your book learned castles of dogma and experience common day life. Perhaps they should follow me around for a day with a hidden camera and I will show them things, subtle things, intricate things which, if viewed in proper context, should make their consciousness growl.
I am an African American male, although in my forties, I have been blessed by heredity to look far younger than my actual age. I am a conservative dresser and, in my oval framed glasses, collegian and studious in appearance. I have lived the bulk of my existence in the midst of white dominated society and culture. I have lived in predominately white neighborhoods and as a result have had more Caucasian friends and acquaintances than those who are black or of other minorities. I articulate will and am shy of conducting my business nor my social outings in a predominate white culture. I live on the trendier side of town in a major city, Los Angeles.

I have never been a victim of the racial profiling of any Police Department. I do not feel that I have ever been turned down a job, promotion or lodgings simply on the bases of my race. In short I should be the prime example of a black who, like a Larry Elder tries to rationalize, or suppresses their anger caused by the type of racial profiling which I am going to discuss. I feel sorry for a person like Mr. Elders who chooses to rationalize his way to a harmonious acceptance of the substandard characterization of his being, based solely on his color. I for one, will neither suppress nor rationalize my reaction to treatment generating such anger and, I am calling on blacks, especially those who have maintained a limited acceptance in the white community to do the same.

I am a victim, yes a true victim because the crime perpetrated against me I have not elicited nor do I have any control or means of averting the crime. I am a victim of racial profiling. No, not of the controversial type of profiling which is so prominent in our modern News lexicon. I am, and millions of others like me, victim of racial profiling although subtle, is much more sinister in its implications. Every time I leave my house, every time I shop, every time I pass a white women on the street, every time a white person gets out of their car and notes my presence I fall victim to this type of profiling.

Sadly, in the case of black Americans our lives are viewed by a different set parameters than any other group (and I will not attempt to justify it as being understandable). For instance, I am a hospital employee. Although, a technician I am required to wear the same white lab coat and expected to present myself in the same manner as the physicians. A visitor can only ascertain that I am not a physician by close inspection: a review of my identification badge. It never ceases to amaze me, how at first contact, a visitor or potential patient will employ all those same subliminal safeguards I call The Flinch: (jacket drawn with great urgency to cover their bosom, skirt adjusted down) , if white female is in the seated position. Upon sighting my presence causes hands drawn close to ( a reflex motion to shield the body), wallet pocket patted, purse clutched, car alarm checked thrice or even four times, children and even dogs pulled close to safety. And this is everyday. It's even worse than the old adage spoken by Malcolm X, What do you call a black man with a Ph.D. ? -- answer -- a nigg__. In fact I have seen pit bulls reacted to with far less fear and anxiety than a black, walking down the street, just trying to go about his business. How does one rationalize this behavior?

I believe situations like those aforementioned, are never put into check, No one ever challenges the dangers of these subtle yet damaging forms of racism and, as a consequence this behavior by whites towards blacks is growing at an unprecedented and alarming rate. Whites are beginning to accept this reaction as normal social behavior. Hey it is okay to get off my car walk ten feet then upon seeing a black man, work my car alarm like crazy. White women are beginning to accept as normal that when approaching a black man you must cover up completely or these animals might see your white flesh and attack you. It is OK for the shop attendant to ignore offering to black man the same courtesy questions such as : how are you today? Although these questions are extended to everyone else in line. I can't even remember the last time I was able to present a credit card without showing ID.

Are any of the intellectuals and social scientist ask the question what are we doing to the dignity of people who are constantly the recipient of such demeaning behavior? An adult overweight person can challengingly express the permanent damages done to them by being teased as a kid about their weight and, we are all able to sympathize and say how terrible that is. Yet imagine living a life where the things I have spoken about are happening non-stop and everyday to that young black male. What is he suppose to do when we talk about the greatness and freedom of this country, when we talk about the melting pot of cultures? When we through out taunts such as United We Stand?
The humiliation I am trying to express will still seem a small matter to most. I guess I will never be able to express the magnitude of dehumanization one feels from such aforementioned behavior. Perhaps it can not be conveyed unless someone has walked in the proverbial shoes ( each and everyday).

We are a diverse nation and being naive about another plight is not a crime although refusing to relinquish naiveness may be.

The Roots of the problem

Racial Subliminal Programing leads to Racial Social Engineering: This is the root of the problem. This is an area which most of us fail to identify or, we ignore when we are confronting the subject of racism. This is subtle form of racism. It generates no hype nor you are able to attach sensational footage to it thus making it a poor choice for News at 10 or an Investigative Report. These factors are the most crucial ingredients in forming the platform of ignorance which racism will undoubtedly grow from. You can not pass it to your child unless someone is constantly feeding it to you.

The media is the primary feeding grounds for subliminal messages. Anyone with half a brain knows that subjects like black crime is viewed much differently than white crime. Everything from word choice to camera time is used to either deflect or enforce the subliminal image desired. The term: a senseless crime always denotes it has been committed by a minority whereas terms like tragic hints that it was committed by a white and thus deflecting the emphasis from the criminal (the being) to the crime (the act) . If there is a car chase that involves a minority, especially a black, you better believe that the cameras are going to remain on the scene to get that close up of the suspect being handcuffed and led away. When it is a white carjacker, after the chase ends the break away shot is that from the helicopter from a considerable distance and the close up is shown on the late night newscast, if at all. We all know this, this is not the important issue, the important yet unasked question is to publicly ask the media, the editors, the news directors, the question why are things reported in this way?

A Los Angeles Councilman once accused the Los Angeles Times of using the term "South Central" to refer to crimes that was being committed in areas way outside the boundaries of his South Central district. Surprisingly, the LA Times did conduct a review of its coverage of crime stories. They found that the Councilman's accusations were indeed true. They issued him an apology and promised to take greater steps in accuracy. The Councilman accepted the apology and the matter was closed. What the Councilman failed to do was to go one step further and ask the crucial question. Why do you editors believe the reporting was being done in this fashion? We will never properly address the issue of racism until questions like these, that tell us about ourselves and our programming, are asked and answered.

You see, by showing blacks as criminals, and by painting them as even more predatory than a white criminal engaged in similar crimes, you reinforce in the minds of mainstream American that these are people to be feared and not trusted.

By citing code words that have come to be associated with blacks, like South Central, you can still implant that subliminal racist messages without coming out and saying what you really believe. Another example: If a black is shot and there is no way of indicating he or she was a black, you use a code phrase like "It was not thought to have been gang related"
Because of the constant bombardment of subliminal messages and racially motivated programing, this condition of racism can exist within the individual unbeknown to the individual himself. A person can be full of racist ideals and never set about or commit a serious racially motivated act, yet the mind set is still there. He or she still believes they are superior.And he or she will more than likely institute all those talked about safeguards even in situations not deserving of such behavior.

Prejudice, Bigotry, Discrimination, Hate Crimes, etc. These are the outward _expression of the aforementioned mind set. It is where our attention is most often directed towards. For example, people tend to focus on the incidents of racism rather than the programming which allowed the individual to commit a racist act in the first place.

Posted by: pghee@hotmail.com

[Pam Baughman]

PUHLEEEEEESE......This is insane!I am from LeBron's hometown....and the young man just happens to be a basketball phenomenon,who was ASKED to be on the cover of Vogue.
Where's the crime???

[XoXo]

it's very rude to think LeBron looks like King Kong. he's a strong basketball player.

Gisele is smiling and cheerful. she's a famous model.

we shouldn't bring racial issues to this pic.

[jwills]

This picture just shows how there is a disconnect with the present generation of African Americans (25 and under) and the previous generations? Vogue knew what they were trying to portray - Lebron King of the Court like King Kong was of the jungle. My question is did Lebron know? I don't think it ever crossed his mind that he was being portrayed as a gorilla - a negative image black men have been fighting for hundreds of years. I think he just thought of it as a cool pic. But this generation of black youth don't have an afro-centric consciousness like previous generations. Could you see Michael Jordan doing a cover like this? It's a different generation that is completely out of touch with the stereotypes, struggles, advances, and accomplishments of African Americans before them. They just don't care.

[plooger]

Putting aside any discussion of intentions, message, etc, it is inarguable that the Vogue cover was an inspired by the WWI propaganda poster referenced by Jose S. (March 28, 2008 at 06:46 PM) above, and by others elsewhere:
http://www.digitaldesk.org/projects/secondary/propaganda/destroy_brute.html

Here's a side-by-side image for easier comparision:
http://home.comcast.net/~krkaufman/du/lebron_as_brute2.jpg

A list of similarities...
* * * Visual * * *
- Outfit colors match counterparts'
- LeBron’s stance, legs apart and hunched over
- LeBron’s facial expression, a jaw agape teeth-baring roar
- LeBron’s “weapon” (a basketball) in his right hand
- LeBron’s white-tipped tennis shoes match the lightened toes on the brute
- Damsel in/on LeBron’s right arm
- Giselle’s stance, with her feet inside LeBron’s, but her body angling outward
- Giselle’s dress neckline, revealing as much of her upper torso as possible while remaining G-rated and cover photo ready.
- Giselle’s hair style; note the wavy curls
* * * Non-visual * * *
- LeBron is known as ‘King James’, and the above poster was part of the inspiration for the 1933 ‘King Kong’ movie
- The WWI propaganda poster was anti-German, and Giselle Bündchen is of German heritage (though from Brazil)
- The paperback release of the latest revision of the Ewens’ book on “typecasting” was March 15th, nearly in parallel with the Vogue cover release. The book’s cover art uses the same WWI propaganda poster.

More on the Ewens' book, here:
http://stereotypeandsociety.typepad.com/stereotypeandsociety/2008/03/just-out-in-pap.html

Credit for the earliest tip on the WWI poster (that I can find) goes to Phawker.com, who included the poster in a March 17th entry discussing the Vogue cover:
http://www.phawker.com/2008/03/17/voguing-this-is-progress

Though Rogers Cadenhead...
http://www.cadenhead.org/workbench/news/3334/vogue-makes-king-james-look-like-king-kong
... widely credited for bringing the poster to the media's attention, credits the following page for illuminating the relationship between the poster and photo ("I've been wondering if Mad Brute would have been discovered without your nephew's help."):
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/krkaufman

: )

[plooger]

Putting aside any discussion of intentions, message, etc, it is inarguable that the Vogue cover was an inspired by the WWI propaganda poster referenced by Jose S. (March 28, 2008 at 06:46 PM) above, and by others elsewhere.

Here's a side-by-side image for easier comparision:
http://home.comcast.net/~krkaufman/du/lebron_as_brute2.jpg

[WYZE]

I feel the picture represents all that LeBron is, which on the court is a BEAST. One of the best, aggressive, talented, take over players in the league. He looks his competitive self. Gisselle does look uncomfortable but this doesnt scream RACISM. They tried to glam her out with the hair in wind look & it failed, but Lebron looks as he should. Which is, one of the most dominant figures in Sports today.

[ashamed american]

If we were in the 50s and 60s most people would say this is a race issue, but nowadays, its still a race issue. Why are we talking about race? are we still living in the 50s and 60s? are we turning back the hands of time? Will artists be prosecuted for thier creativity? If any other person of a different race were used, it wouldnt have garnered this resopnse. Why are we so conditioned to feel intimidated by the skin color? if it weren't for color, this world would be bland.

[hillary]

F.Y.I.
Gisele Bundchen is BRAZILIAN! A WOMAN OF COLOR!!