[vincesanity82]

The cover of Vogue's April issue -- featuring an Annie Leibowitz photo of LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen, seen to the right -- has been thoroughly digested by this point. But the backlash against the imagery is coming to a head today.

ABC News's Sheila Marikar (via CSTB) spoke with art professor Jason Rosenfeld of Marymount Manhattan College about the image's racial undertones.

"It's one thing to have an athlete in that kind of pose and with that kind of expression on a court after he or she has done something miraculous. It's another thing to couple it with someone who is of an entirely different ilk and gender. That turns it into a racially charged image."

ESPN.com's Jemele Hill also composed a column on the matter, though she casts responsibility on LeBron and the NBA.

Vogue deserves criticism, but more blame should go to LeBron and other black athletes, who need to exercise stricter control of their images. If LeBron is brave enough to wear a Yankees cap at an Indians playoff game, picking up a history book and educating himself shouldn't cause a strain. ... As it is, LeBron was the first African-American male to grace Vogue's cover. Too bad it will be memorable for the wrong reasons.

LeBron's <em>Vogue</em> Cover Spurs Controversy - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

[Bette]

Ok color me stupid here but I dont see what the problem is.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Bette

Ok color me stupid here but I dont see what the problem is.

They talked about this one ESPN First Take, they big deal is how covers like this and others make black athletes looked beasts or monsters.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by bears9

They talked about this one ESPN First Take, they big deal is how covers like this and others make black athletes looked beasts or monsters.

Oh for pete's sakes. He's a tough guy.
So if it was some other big tough looking dude and he was white, it would be different???

Boy, I think that some people just dont have enough to do.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Bette

Oh for pete's sakes. He's a tough guy.
So if it was some other big tough looking dude and he was white, it would be different???

Boy, I think that some people just dont have enough to do.

That is kind of what I thought too, but that is what the big deal is.

[Lefty Noob]

Wow, this is a controversy? I'm with Bette on this one. I just don't see it.

He's posing like he's playing basketball. How did they want him to pose, seated in a recliner wearing bifocals and reading Tolstoy???

[Seahawker 562]

I think their the racist for noticing

(see i put the smily face bette)