LeBron James' Vogue cover causes controversy -- Basketball, Nat...

When Vogue announced its April cover starring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen, the magazine noted with some fanfare that James was the first black man to grace its cover.

[Metric Cruiser]

its a perfect example of one of the only accepted professions where a black man is expected to excel...

[huh]

Metric Cruiser wrote:

its a perfect example of one of the only accepted professions where a black man is expected to excel...

What?

[Charles]

With everything going on right now-the economy, the war, people losing their homes-THIS is what people are worried about? This is ridiculous.

[Metric Cruiser]

huh wrote:

<quoted text>
What?

oh come on don't be stupid. what other profession would be as believable as this?

[Redogg]

The below quote from the article underscores the sense of entitlement in the black community that so many others resent. This person is implying that Vogue should hire people simply because they are black. Forget about qualifications, let's just hire people because of their skin color.

"If more people of color worked for Vogue in positions of editorial authority, perhaps someone in the room might have been able to read the image the way so many of us are reading it now, and had the power to do something about it," she said."

[Angel Face]

Vogue magazine thought it would be a good idea to put someone on the cover in a tank top and basketball shorts?! What would have been so horrible about a nice suit? That ensemble would have been fine were this the cover of sports illustrated, but Vogue is more of a feminine version of GQ. I hardly think the cover was appropriate for this particular magazine.

[Angel Face]

Charles wrote:

With everything going on right now-the economy, the war, people losing their homes-THIS is what people are worried about? This is ridiculous.

Sometimes it's good to step away from all the depressing events going on around us and focus on less serious things. Otherwise, we would all go nuts. Lighten up. It's not that we don't care about the things you have mentioned, but are those the only things we can care about?

[Incognito Johnson]

Charles wrote:

With everything going on right now-the economy, the war, people losing their homes-THIS is what people are worried about? This is ridiculous.

Scary Huh?

[Orlandodolphin]

Whomever is making these accusations is the racist. This is absolutely ridiculous that this is an issue.Next thing you know someone will be saying the white man created Aids or the USA planned 9-11.

[Angel Face]

otownnole wrote:

<quoted text>
With all due respect, this is serious. Any claim of racism should be taken seriously, as should any claim of racism that is 100% completely BS.
A picture of a man, who made $31 million dollars last year playing basketball and from the endorsements as a result of his superstardom, in a basketball type outfit is not out of the norm of what should be expected. Why is Gisele in a low cut top? Because she is a supermodel for Christs sake.
Any claim that this cover photo is racist has got to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

I agree that any claim of racism is serious. My issue was not with the fact that he is pictured on the cover with a white woman being made to look like King Kong. It is with the way he is dressed. A basketball outfit on the cover of Vogue is as appropriate as Rosie O'Donnel on the front of a wheaties box. Maybe I am way off topic, but it seems pretty poor in taste to me. A basketball outfit is fine for the cover of a sports magazine, but Vogue is supposed to be classier than that.

[AlumKnight]

He isn't in a suit because the story is about healthy bodies, and he is then featured in such a way that shows off his body. A suit would cover all that up. The pose is definitely odd, but I doubt racist. I would interpret it as an expression of the passion expressed while he plays the game, which is the reason for his being in great shape, and the reason someone wanted to put him on a magazine. I'm sre you could go back and watch game tape and see him in the same pose on the court, granted sans the skinny white chick. But what do I know, I'm a fat white guy.

[d lucille]

I see a basketball player and a pretty woman, geez,the stupid stuff people come up with. Give me a break!

[Saddened]

I'm black and frankly this is - once again a time when I'd like to ask these morons who find anything derogatory with the photo to leave the gene pool. It's 2008, grow up. Sheesh!! Then again, I've got a Caribbean background and our African American friends (and I use that term loosely) will tell me that my views are irrelevant.

[armywifelizy]

I cannot believe we still live in a world that a black man and a white woman cannot pose together and still cause such a stir! He has his game face on, that's it folks......now move on. They look Beautiful. God Bless America, that we can see two races together and that should be something positive.

[Uncle Joe Owens]

Yet another example of how some people ALWAYS want to see racism no matter what!!! If Lebron was opposed to the picture I doubt it would have made it on the cover. PERIOD!!! IF HE is NOT offended what gives YOU the right to be offended?? It wasn't your photo. What next? Black America crying about how poor Tiger Woods is being "exploited" on all those Gatorade bottles? Yeah right, give me a break. Some people just like to piss and moan NO MATTER WHAT!!!

[Whatever]

Oh please...give me a break. People will complain about anything these days. He's an athlete! What do you want him to do? Stand there and look all pretty and dainty? Seriously, get a life. Next thing you know we'll have Jesse Jackson all over the issue.

[raaines]

there are a few points to be considered when reflecting on people's disagreement to the vogue cover. african-americans are constantly being negatively portrayed. this cover is just another reminder. why do blacks see racism...let's see...movies/tv depicts blacks as pimps, thugs, rapists, criminals, cafeteria workers, etc (as if they can't do anything else). Do you honestly think this is by mistake? If the magazine is vogue, shouldn't Lebron be dressed in a suit. If you want to call to mind that he is a basketball player, place a basketball in his hand. An earlier poster mentioned the inside article is about healthy bodies. Thusly, Lebron is dressed as he is. Using that argument, shouldn't the "skinny white chick" be dressed in athletic gear, too. There are plenty reminders in the media that white is beautiful, powerful, rich...and black is the complete opposite. Whites do not see an issue with this because they are more positively represented than blacks and blacks are tired of being made to look like angry blacks (i.e., any time they interview a black person on the local news. They find the least articulate of the bunch). The argument is fair whether america chooses to accept it or not.(oh yeah...the person who said that if more blacks were on staff this wouldn't have happened isn't asking for blacks to be given jobs...but having a more diverse, sensitive, and balanced perspectives other than that of a white male. Perhaps, if the staff was more balanced, someone could have said...u know, this might not be a good idea.)

[onepopo]

AlumKnight wrote:

He isn't in a suit because the story is about healthy bodies, and he is then featured in such a way that shows off his body. A suit would cover all that up. The pose is definitely odd, but I doubt racist. I would interpret it as an expression of the passion expressed while he plays the game, which is the reason for his being in great shape, and the reason someone wanted to put him on a magazine. I'm sre you could go back and watch game tape and see him in the same pose on the court, granted sans the skinny white chick. But what do I know, I'm a fat white guy.

Yes. Lebron James himself stated he was trying to show his passion for the game with his expression in the photo...his "game face". He is not bothered by the picture and neither am I. And yes, I am black.

[onepopo]

"James told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer he was pleased with the cover, saying he was "just showing a little emotion."
"Everything my name is on is going to be criticized in a good way or bad way," James told the paper. "Who cares what anyone says?"

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-le...

[BOB]

I see nothing wrong with the cover; very energetic and fun . The only thing wrong with the cover is vogue lack of using black models , because if they had choose to use one it would not be an issue today.