The OJ Simpson TIME Magazine cover published in 1994 is one of the most recognizable ever made. Following his arrest and right before his trial, TIME decided to publish this cover with editing that severely darkened his skin. The public quickly turned on TIME for being racist asking the question "would the media ever lighten a white man's skin?" This cover pushed the trial over the edge and it quickly became a crime of race instead of Simpson's murder. Led by attorney Johnnie Cochran, OJ Simpson was found not guilty due to racial issues being prevalent throughout the trial.
As being one of the most popular magazines in the country, TIME, had millions of subscribers at the time the OJ Simpson magazine was published. These subscribers quickly noticed the mugshot cover was altered when put side by side next to NEWSWEEK. The photograph already representing a murder case with racial tension, the public was outraged. TIME editor, James R. Gaines states on America Online, " no racial implication was intended, by Time or the artist" (Mahurin). Gaines claimed to have no racial agenda, and only altered the image to give the cover a dramatic feel. Subscribers of America online criticized the cover to have more of a sinister feel and Gaines was guilty for racism. Gaines responds to the critical subscribers: "It seems to me you could argue that it's racist to say that blacker is more sinister, but be that as it may: To the extent that this caused offense to anyone, I obviously regret it" (Carmody).
Vogue Covers by Vogue Used Under CC
Vogue's annual "Shape Issue" featuring NBA basketball star, Lebron James, and supermodel Gisele Bundchen was published in 2008. The VOGUE cover depicts a famous World War I recruitment poster. Viewers soon saw the cover as a racial reference of the NBA star portraying King Kong as he is carrying a white women. In VOGUE photographer, Annie Leibovitz, is known for referencing iconic images for the covers so this reference was no mistake. Lebron James is even the first black man to be on the cover of VOGUE.
James and Bundchen's cover shows many different similarities when compared to the poster: their color of their clothes, the way James has his mouth open , the positioning of their bodies, and even a basketball to reference King Kong's club.
James was just demonstrating the same intensity he shows when on the court and failed to make any connections. James defends the cover when he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "It wasn't a situation we're being rough or looking mean. Just showing a little emotion. We had a few looks and that was the best one we had" (Cadenhead). James' comments raise the question whether the photographer even told him what she was planning on doing with his photos. But magazine analyst, Samir Husni, believes this photograph was planned to reference the vintage poster; He adds: "It screams King Kong … so when you have a cover that reminds people of King Kong and brings those stereotypes to the front, black man wanting white woman, it's not innocent" (Today).
New Pittsburgh Courier Logo by New Pittsburgh Courier Used Under CC
Emantic "EJ" Bradford by New Pittsburgh Courier Used Under CC
The "Pittsburgh Courier" became the first national black newspaper under Robert Von in 1907. During the Civil Rights Movement and the growth of advertising, the black newspapers began to fade due to other newspaper companies becoming more diverse. Some of the black press papers still exist today. The "Pittsburgh Courier" closed but later reopened into the "New Pittsburgh Courier". The company still reaches to an audience who wants their thoughts and beliefs to be heard today.
A devastating article entitled, "Don't let police keep secrets in their shooting of a Black man at Alabama mall," was published on December 7th, 2018 about a 21-year-old black military man was shot dead by police while attempting to breakup a fight at a mall. On Thanksgiving night, Emantic Bradford was shot three times by police in Birmingham, Alabama. Bradford was the youngest son of a military family who was working full time to support his family. A bystander who witnessed the shooting stated, "They just killed that Black boy for no reason" (Jackson). The "New Pittsburgh Courier" speaks on behalf of the national issue of police shooting without warning due because of the color of the person's skin. The article goes further into detail about innocent people becoming a target just because they are African American, "He is one of more than 850 people who have been shot and killed by the police in the United States this year, and the most recent victim of racial violence at the hands of police" (Jackson).
This article is based on pure emotion and anger because an innocent man was killed because of the color of his skin and police are doing all they can to cover the situation up. Due to this being a reoccurring situation, people are starting to protest for justice and a change. The common "New Pittsburgh Courier" reader would be outraged after reading this article and could even be motivated to protest as well. This particular article is a perfect example on how the black press expresses their thoughts and beliefs in their writing style and is able to gear its writing toward the minority audience.