New Yorker Cover: Satire or Stereotyping?

The New Yorker’s newest cover is causing a major flap nationally with its portrayal of the Obama’s as terrorists in the White House. The magazine’s editors call it a satire of right wing stereotypes of the Obama’s that have been created by the political right. Unfortunately it is very damaging to the Obama campaign because it reinforces the stereotypes that some Americans actually believe. Visual messages, even illustrations, can be a very powerful way of reinforcing accepted stereotypes.