Breaking: Curious George publisher condemns bigoted attack on Obama in Georgia

As I walked out my door to bring my daughter to the bus stop today, I chatted for a few minutes with my African American neighbor.  Nearly every day, we discuss "the latest" in the primary campaign -- how many superdelegates Obama got, what the latest polls mean, what outrageous thing the Clinton campaign has done now, and so forth.  But today, my friend had a story I hadn't heard about:  a racist incident that had happened not that far away in Marietta, Georgia.  Some ignorant yahoo thought it would be funny to sell T-shirts from his bar with a picture of Curious George and Obama '08 underneath.  As my friend told the story I could see how painful it was to her.  This wasn't under the heading of "silly primary season" or "just politics".  This was personal.  Not only was this an example of hateful cruelty and an embarrassment to the city of Marietta (the district Newt Gingrich represented), it represents the anathema of what America is about.  I felt helpless in what to do against such hate.  Well, I have good news to share:  the publisher of Curious George has stepped in to stop it, with legal action if necessary.

First, here is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's story:

The T-shirts are being peddled by Marietta bar owner Mike Norman at his Mulligan's Bar and Grill in Cobb County. They show a picture of Curious Georgie peeling a banana, with the words "Obama '08" underneath.

...

Norman acknowledged the imagery's Jim Crow roots but said he sees nothing wrong with depicting a prominent African-American as a monkey.

"We're not living in the (19)40's," he said. "Look at him . . . the hairline, the ears -- he looks just like Curious George."

...

...Mulligan's is a refuge, (Milligan's supporters) say, in an otherwise hypersensitive world. Smoking isn't only allowed at the bar, it's expected.

"This place is a diamond in the rough," said Gene McKinley, a Woodstock engineer among the patrons Tuesday. "People here are genuine and honest. It's the one place I can go without having to worry if I'm offending someone."

Norman said he fielded calls throughout Tuesday about his T-shirts. An ajc.com story about the controversy was picked up on the Drudge Report. "One guy in New Jersey wanted me to send him 100 shirts," said Norman, 63.

That was the basic gist of the story.  If you go to the link, you can read him say even more stupid things.  The Creative Loafing blog said it best:

Marietta racist insists he's not a racist.

Since the story hit, and as updated in the AJC article, was picked up on Drudge, things have changed.  Curious George is flipping pissed off and isn't going to take it:

Curious George publisher may sue over T-shirt
Cobb bar selling shirts combining book character's picture, Obama's name

By JAMIE GUMBRECHT, CHRISTIAN BOONE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/13/08

The publishing company that owns the Curious George image says it is considering legal action to stop the sale of a T-shirt depicting Barack Obama as the monkey from children's books.

...

Rick Blake, a spokesman for publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which owns Curious George, said Wednesday that the company didn't authorize the use of the character's image, but hasn't been in touch with anybody selling or manufacturing the shirts.

"We find it offensive and obviously utterly out of keeping with the value Curious George represents," Blake said. "We're monitoring the situation and weighing our options with respect to legal action."

Hurray for Curious George!!!  I can't wait to tell my friend the great news.  Not only that, I can say my 4 year old has been a huge fan of Curious George for at least a year, and it looks like she has an excellent judgment of character in children's books (and their publisher).  Sometimes bad and depressing stories do have happy endings.  Nice to see our country's better angels have come to the rescue.

•  Tips for Curious George

  by beachmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:43:44 PM PDT

  •  Is this even an attack against Obama

    Really this thing just serves to make the bar owner (and some in the town) objects of ridicule.

    I dare say they are snarking themselves.

    by Shhs on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:55:48 PM PDT

    •  It's an attack on all people of color

      That's what a lot of people don't understand.  A racial attack on Obama is personal to black Americans who have dealt with racism and bigotry their whole life.  This sort of thing hurts.

      by beachmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:57:27 PM PDT

      •  As A White Dude I Can't Even Imagine n/t

        by webranding on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:58:38 PM PDT

      •  It's an attack

        but I think this type of idocracy will end up hurting the perps.  Really, these people are not opened for ridicule (and maybe a suit).

        by Shhs on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:59:48 PM PDT

      •  As a child from the 60's,

        when "Negro children" were routinely referred to as "little monkeys" - this truly curdles my stomach.

        I do think the publisher could call this a diminishment of their product.

        by texasmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:04:50 PM PDT

        •  The phrase

          "porch monkey" is still alive as a racist slur here in CT so I would think the racists knew exactly what they were doing.

          It honestly sounds like something the College Republicans would do to show the hypocrisy of political correctness because you can call Bush Curious George, but not Obama. I'm glad the company is stepping up, but the racists will just do it again anyway.  I think it is important that people hit back against these seemingly small instances of racism because it needs to be known that the overwhelming majority of Americans do not support this hatred.

          by pgm 01 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:35:27 PM PDT

•  Someone Posted yesterday

  In a diary on this same story... supposedly the bar in question is widely known as a Klan hangout type place.  Dunno how much authority they were speaking with but they seemed to know.

  by TooFolkGR on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:44:37 PM PDT

  •  Really? Ugh. It is good that Curious George's

    publisher has now gotten involved.  It will further marginalize that place and that kind of thinking.

    by beachmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:45:35 PM PDT

  •  Do you have the link to that diary?

    I must have missed it.  Thanks.

    by beachmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:47:40 PM PDT

    •  Sorry I Don't

      I know it was yesterday morning that I read it though... not sure if that helps.

      by TooFolkGR on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:49:04 PM PDT

      •  what are you doing online GR?

        go get in line and hear the big endorsement tonight

        by jhpdb on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:12:39 PM PDT

        •  I Was There

          I got in at about 5:20 and was on the main floor, only about fifty feet from the podium.  It was a great time.

          by TooFolkGR on Wed May 14, 2008 at 05:37:55 PM PDT

    •  Here ya go,

      Three diaries, actually!

      The one I saw first:

      An Example of the Racism We Can Expect Against Obama

      by lgmcp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:07:00 PM PDT

    •  And two more

      A Racist Bar and the Freedom of Speech

      and one with some action ideas around contacting bar suppliers:
      Obama Depicted as Curious George T-Shirt

      by lgmcp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:08:36 PM PDT

      •  Thank you.

        by beachmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:10:45 PM PDT

•  Unspeakable. nt

  by Bob Love on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:46:30 PM PDT

•  Curiously, I haven't seen this story til now n/t

  by collardgreens on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:47:25 PM PDT

•  I wonder if anyone has done a book on the

  intervention of fictional characters in American politics.

  Seven of Nine had a big hand in launching Obama's national career; will the Curious George incident help put him over the top?

  by melvin on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:48:31 PM PDT

  •  Bob the builder

    endorsed Obama early on.

    But Angelica Pickles is for Hillary.

    by sab39 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:52:40 PM PDT

    •  I'm not even asking

      who Harriet the Spy is backing.

      by texasmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:05:44 PM PDT

      •  And the childless among us dKossers . . .

        quietly make a run for the exits.

        ;-P

        by chrississippi on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:09:03 PM PDT

    •  And the Teletubbies

      are for eeeeevryone! Biiiiiig hug!

      by fritzrth on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:20:24 PM PDT

    •  Skeletor for McSame!

      by The Gryffin on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:36:35 PM PDT

•  thanks for the update

  I felt sick when I saw the shirt design.

  by onanyes on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:48:35 PM PDT

•  I hope they sue

  I loved that series when I was a kid.

  by Gator1980 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:49:23 PM PDT

  •  This is particularly disgusting...

    ...when you realize that the creators of Curious George were a Jewish couple who fled France on bicycles when the Nazi conquered it in 1940 (their stories and illustrations were reported tied to their bicycles).

    by Randall Sherman on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:55:09 PM PDT

    •  Wow.

      Send this bit of info to the perpetrators.

      by lascaux on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:57:08 PM PDT

    •  Wow that is good info

      If the bar owner wasn't and idiot he would have hoped on the Internets and learned that b4 he made the shirt.

      Oh well stupid is as stupid does.  I hope stupid get sued.

      by Shhs on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:58:30 PM PDT

•  Video clip

  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...

  by Scarce on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:49:26 PM PDT

  •  Oh, dear Lord. I live 40 min. away.

    And they're the Lou Dobbs crowd, too.

    by beachmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:00:56 PM PDT

•  Love them to sue this jesrk out of business.

  by DWKING on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:50:56 PM PDT

•  Curious George endorses Obama

  (Not a superdelegate)

  by ekthesy on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:50:59 PM PDT

  •  Jack Johnson's Curious George soundtrack

    is great.

    Maybe Obama should have JJ play "Upside Down" at his inaugural party just to rub it in the racists' faces.

    by jre2k8 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:06:31 PM PDT

•  It's not surprising

  that Houghton is going after this copyright infringement. Curious George is a big moneymaker for them.

  They also sued a band called "Furious George" for infringement, and there was a similar flap over the use of "incurious George" related to the current Idiot-in-Chief, number 43.

  But it's nice that they can bring all that corporate might down on the side of the angels this time.

  by FriendlyNeighbor on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:53:06 PM PDT

  •  The Sole Reason John McCain And His Republicans

    want to get rid of trial lawyers is so that no one can be sued for doing this type of thing.

    by kerplunk on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:20:54 PM PDT

•  This Is A Perfect Example

  of way when people accuse Clinton of inserting race into the race it is valid. At some level I think she isn't (or I want to think that). But the "code" words she uses seems to me she would grasp what is being done by using them.

  Race is still an issue in this nation. A huge issue mostly hidden away and not to be talked about. I love my parents, love them with all my heart but I am still pretty sure that in their minds there are "blacks" and there are well "nig*&rs."

  by webranding on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:55:19 PM PDT

  •  Somehow I think these jerks might have noticed

    Obama's race, without any help from Hillary "inserting" it.  These are not wishy-washy closet racists, vulnerable to manipulation from respected 'normal' sources, THESE are dyed-in-the-wool no-two-ways-about it racists.  Clintons campaign, unpleasant as it has been, can hardly be held responsible for this particular unpleasantness.  

    by lgmcp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:12:42 PM PDT

•  I don't know if they will sue, but

  As the campaign goes forward, more of this stuff will probably emerge. Keep in mind that a quick call to corporate interests in intellectual property infringement is by far the best way to quiet these stupid bigots.

  It will be quick sharp and embarrassing.

  Small minds generally speaking lack the smarts to produce original work.

  Our better angels... I love that phrase.

  by lascaux on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:55:58 PM PDT

•  You are going to HATE ME for this.

  I am a minority. The first time I heard this story, I...and I am ashamed to say this...went "Awww...how CUTE!". Curious George was my first love, and I always found him adorable.  It took my white, American husband to explain why this was offensive and racially insensitive.

  Please understand that there are going to be a few clueless people like me, who won't get it at first glimpse. Sometimes ugly racial nuances are missed by those who have not heard them applied to other people, and it is important to educate people as to why such a thing is offensive. Otherwise, you'll be clubbing the truly bigoted, and the clueless together, and that is not fair to the latter.

  by imported beer on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:58:29 PM PDT

  •  I was told the story by someone

    who was very hurt by it.  She is older and grew up in Florida -- she knows the drill.  She said it was common for black folks to be told they look like monkeys.  That is why it is an absolute no-no.  

    by beachmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:02:45 PM PDT

    •  Oh This Is A Common Theme

      that people of color are like apes or monkeys. Just part human. Not like white people.

      by webranding on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:04:22 PM PDT

      •  well that point of view

        is especially funny since all humans came from monkeys.
        But that is another whole argument for some people.  :-)

        by lpeggy on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:12:21 PM PDT

        •  I've never forgotten channel surfing as a kid

          and seeing some very early version of a televised mega-church service.  A bunch of cute female vocalists in Donny-and-Marie-Osmond styling were singing

          Oh I don't know about YOUR ancestors
          But MINE didn't swing from no tree
          I ain't no kin to the monkey
          And the monkey's no kin to me!  

          .

          Juvenile as I was, I swear these were my  thoughts:  "The grammar, it hurts!  And how very, very ignorant they are about biology."

          by lgmcp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:15:44 PM PDT

•  Sometimes I appreciate huge corporations

  and their anal desire to protect their copyright.

  Other times (Disney), it gets out of hand.

  by reklemrov on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:59:47 PM PDT

  •  I doubt they would have gotten involved

    with such a small number of shirts, if it weren't for the bigoted message and public outrage.

    by beachmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:03:55 PM PDT

•  I live in Ga, and saw this on the local news last

  night. Another interesting thing about this. The guy says he is donating the proceeds to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. MDA apparently said we dont want the money.

  by jj32 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:01:21 PM PDT

•  Let's play word association.

  You say "monkey."

  I say "George W. Bush."

  My apologies to monkeys, I really do like the creatures.

  by jre2k8 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:02:28 PM PDT

  •  No. That's "Not So Curious George"

    by TDreamer on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:16:02 PM PDT

    •  I guess "chimp"

      would be more apt.

      Frankly, I wish I had monkey strength.  They are stronger than humans by about a factor of ten per pound of body weight.

      by jre2k8 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:17:45 PM PDT

•  Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle

  That is excellent.  I thought when I saw a diary about this a few days ago that there must be some way to stop that jerk from using the classic character in his racist message.  And it turns out there is!  Hurrah!  

  by lgmcp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:03:07 PM PDT

•  FWIW

  Curious George is about the only watchable kids' cartoon on TV or DVD.

  Stay away from Curious George, you racist assholes, or there will be hell to pay.

  by jre2k8 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:04:38 PM PDT

•  Is there a lawyer in the house?

  This guy could lose his bar in legal fees alone. I don't know if this shirt is covered under free speech or even satire. Obama in 08 doesn't sell the t shirt, its the licensed registered trademark cartoon.

  What do the lawyers think?

  by DC Mom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:08:57 PM PDT

  •  I Am Not A Lawyer

    but dealt with both copyright and trademark issues most of my career. If the owner of Curious George wants to make an issue of it the bar owner is in serious, serious trouble.

    by webranding on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:12:14 PM PDT

  •  Probably not big enough damages.

    If he only sold a few shirts.

    Unless they really wanted to pursue it against him.  It's a slam dunk case for the copyright owner.

    by jre2k8 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:12:50 PM PDT

    •  Caveat...

      If they can show that this infringement has damaged their product in the marketplace, Katie bar the door...of the bar...

      by jre2k8 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:16:08 PM PDT

      •  We Are Now In Total Agreement n/t

        by webranding on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:18:06 PM PDT

    •  Not Entirely True

      When a copyright or trademark is violated, when it is done for profit is taken into account. No doubt about that. But the amount of profit isn't a direct consideration to the potential award/judgement.

      by webranding on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:17:12 PM PDT

      •  Indeed

        damage to the "brand" is bigger...

        by jre2k8 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:19:11 PM PDT

  •  What Company Printed The T-Shirts?

    They are also liable if they didn't receive copyright approval.

    by kerplunk on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:35:44 PM PDT

•  Hah!

  I just might have pulled that off. I alerted the publisher.

  Of course I don't know if I was the first person to do so. So I may have had nothing to do with it, but it is interesting that about 24 hours after I alerted them they threaten a lawsuit.

  by mole333 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:11:07 PM PDT

  •  Mole333, you're my hero!!

    I will give you the credit.

    by beachmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:12:02 PM PDT

    •  How can i contact the publisher with my outrage?

      thank you mole333 for calling them. I want to call and complain too.

      by DC Mom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:15:23 PM PDT

      •  THank them

        They seem to be doing the right thing.

        You can contact them by email:

        Children'[e-mail]

        by mole333 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:25:19 PM PDT

    •  THanks

      I suspect others thought of it too. But when I did it no one else was talking about the copyright infringement aspect but it was the first thing I thought. Maybe because I have a kid who loved a particular Curious George book.

      by mole333 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:26:22 PM PDT

  •  congrats!

    I wish that Curious George would jump off that t-shirt and stick his bananna where the sun don't shine on that idiot bar owner.  Sorry, that was bad.

    by lpeggy on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:14:48 PM PDT

    •  Pretty suggestive banana, wasn't it?

      Playing into more than ONE stereotype at a time, I'd say.

      by lgmcp on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:16:55 PM PDT

      •  yes, I thought so too

        which is why I made my bananna suggestion for the t-shirt creator.  LOL  What an idiot.

        by lpeggy on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:20:06 PM PDT

  •  Thank you for doing that.

    Most people just shook their heads, you took action!

    

    by browneyes on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:21:10 PM PDT

    •  Thankew

      I suspect others thought of it too. But when I did it no one else was talking about the copyright infringement aspect but it was the first thing I thought. Maybe because I have a kid who loved a particular Curious George book.

      But I can use a round of applause from time to time.

      by mole333 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:27:04 PM PDT

•  Did somebody say Curious George?

  My nephews freaking love that movie.

  by jre2k8 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:13:34 PM PDT

•  Good news

  Hurray for Curious George!

  The Man in the Yellow Hat carefully picked up George and took him away from the Man in the White Sheet.

  I'm also glad that disgusting racists like this choose to spend most of their time in a small room drinking alchohol and breathing in clouds of tobacco smoke. This should help ensure that there will fewer of them to deal with in the future.

  by TDreamer on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:14:35 PM PDT

•  I'm no fan of Hillary, but there have been some

  pretty nasty business promotions using questionable "humor" at her expense.  Example:

  

  Ugh!  I hate election years.

  by browneyes on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:19:13 PM PDT

  •  gotta be photoshop

    by DC Mom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:28:41 PM PDT

    •  I hope so. This kind of stuff is really

      disgusting.  But I wouldn't be surprised of some business owner in a conservative area really put it up there.

      by browneyes on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:31:29 PM PDT

•  Isn't This Guy In Trouble From An Employment

  civil rights perspective.  Isn't this setting up a hostile work environment for his employees when he is encouraging a racist employment environment?

  by kerplunk on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:25:04 PM PDT

  •  I don't know for sure,

    but I have my doubts that he has any African-American employees.

    by fritzrth on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:27:04 PM PDT

    •  It Doesn't Matter. Even If All The Employees

      agreed not to be offended, he has still set up a hostile work environment.  Current nor future employees should have to be subjected to this racism in the work environment.

      by kerplunk on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:30:20 PM PDT

      •  What I was saying ...

        is that, given the nature of the place, I'm sure the people he hires are pretty much cut from the same cloth as him. I'm not defending him or his actions.

        I'm would think that for this to be actionable as a hostile work environment case, an employee would have to complain, and you're probably not going to find one here.

        by fritzrth on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:38:52 PM PDT

•  I have three words for you...

  Iron My Shirt.  As offensive and horrible as this is, it will only help Obama.  Blatant expressions of racism will result in a backlash in his favor, just as blatant expressions of sexism helped Hillary in NH.

  I welcome these racist idiots to do their worst.  It's only going to help elect America's first African American president.

  by SaintCog on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:43:29 PM PDT

•  I link to this diary on CK

  Since the AJC site keeps crashing Firefox on me, I had to forgo choosing my own quotes and just used this diary for my Culture Kitchen diary (with a link to here). But my version has a Curious George on Ether image... ;- )

  by mole333 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:45:23 PM PDT

  •  Thanks. Culture Kitchen is a great site.

    I'll go check out your diary.

    by beachmom on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:48:07 PM PDT

    •  Thanks

      Glad you like our site! Always surprised when I find fans.

      by mole333 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:49:33 PM PDT

•  Congressman Gingrey, your thoughts?

  AFAIK, this is a business in Rep. Phil Gingrey's district.  Gingrey was standing directly behind the guy who compared Barack Obama to Tiger Woods at a McCain rally in DC back in April (see the video here--Gingrey is the one standing to the left of the man in the ridiculous hat, immediately behind the speaker).

  If Russert can grill Obama about Harry Belafonte simply because of their similar pigmentation, shouldn't someone ask Gingrey, who was present and stood silent when the "Tiger Woods" comparison was made, and in whose district this t-shirt is being sold*, what he thinks about it?

  Yeah, I'm holding my breath.

  (* - I worked a race in the GA-11th, but there was a redistricting since then.  I believe Roswell Street is still in the 11th, but if it's not then it once was and is now just over the district line, still in Gingrey's home town)

  by JR on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:54:16 PM PDT

•  Muscular Dystrophy Association says NO!

  they just reported on MSNBC that the MuscularDystrophy Association says that they will NOT be accepting any money from the sales of the T-shirts!  Remember the guy selling them said he was donating the money to MS?

  Well they just said, hell no!

  by lpeggy on Wed May 14, 2008 at 02:00:20 PM PDT

•  Beautifully done beachmom...

  kudos.  Keep up the good fight my friend.  :-)

  Welcome to my world.  Living in Marietta, I am surrounded by the fiercely and proudly ignorant like racist Mikey.  How pathetic is this?

  Iraq Moratorium

  by One Pissed Off Liberal on Wed May 14, 2008 at 03:46:11 PM PDT