African-American newspaper’s Aunt Jemima cartoon of black lawmaker infuriates her supporters

Aunt Jemima cartoon angers Ohio lawmaker’s backers

CLEVELAND — An African-American newspaper in Cleveland published an editorial cartoon that portrayed a black lawmaker as Aunt Jemima, angering her supporters.

Some blacks find the food company advertising character offensive because of its use as a racist stereotype.

The weekly Call & Post cartoon cast state Sen. Nina Turner as Aunt Jemima. The cartoon accompanied an editorial criticizing the Cleveland Democrat for supporting last month’s successful ballot issue to overhaul county government. Some blacks fear the changes will reduce minority political power.

Call & Post associate publisher and editor Connie Harper says the caricature isn’t hurtful.

Backers of Turner, many of them young black professionals, call it racist and demeaning.

Information from: The Plain Dealer, www.cleveland.com