One African-American commentator said it played upon stereotypes of the sexuality of the African-American male that appears threatening to whites. He also said that the photo reminded him of King Kong and the woman whom King Kong takes captive!
I am ill-equipped to address the African-American experience. It's hard, for example, to accept Michelle Obama's comment that she is proud of her country for the first time in her life. I try to explain it as more a sense of alienation (despite her privileged Ivy League education) than a lack of patriotism.
I'd like to hear from readers what they think about the cover of the April 2008 issue of Vogue. Do you see a subtext here?
