Word: lampooning
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...December, as some people are sure to remember, right about the time when we were studying for finals and right about the time when few people wanted to become absorbed in any controversial battle over any issue, the Harvard Lampoon made a "joke" about Africa and African people. In the Lampoon's issue, "On Civilized Man," located inside the front and back cover there was a strip entitled "My Summer in Africa" that looked very much like the cartoon images that were being portrayed about Africa in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries by groups who wished to use such...
...long and too often have Black people been made to feel ashamed of their roots among Africa's beautiful cultures because of these "Tarzan" depictions that have been hung over our heads by exploitative and unsensitive mediums such as the Lampoon. It has even gotten to the point where there are many Black people who just cannot stand to hear about their own past heritage in Africa because of all the belittling lies that we have been, and are still being told. And as these lies ruthlessly take away and sense of pride or respect that we as Black people...
...accept the lack of concern and respect that the Lampoon has shown us by depicting Africans as what appears to be smiling spear-chuckers, putting women on stone altars for sacrifice, and carrying white men (Bwanas?) around on thrones as if they were kings or gods, as being nothing more than just another cultural, joke, or perhaps a simple outlet for the divergent humor of some member of the Lampoon staff, then we are allowing a painful history of cruel persecution through colonization, degradation, and outright humiliation to be abused once again. We just can't allow people...
Indeed, the Lampoon issues is an outrage, but what really bothers me is that after all that has happened to people of African descent for the last 400 years all around the Western world, there could still be anyone from any background who could in any way think it was funny. Alan Shaw '85, BSA President
Ulin said he was pleased with the Lampoon's choices, adding. "They are not per se the worst movies ever made. They are had in such a way as they can be enjoyed...