Harlem artist "Tafa" has a picture hanging in New York, recognizing him as one of America's "top African American painters." The painting depicts a Christ-like figure, hanging upside down, and resembling Osama Bin Laden. This passes for an intellectual-artistic statement?
While some at the show did recognize the Bin Laden face on the Christ body, we found none who were offended. Instead most defended "Tafa" the artist's right to speak his mind. The painting is bordered with hand lettered expressions and names including "mujahadin," "McCarthyism," and "Amadou Diallo," a man killed by New York City police in 1999.
Of course, very few in New York would be offended. I won't even begin to unravel the confusion represented by this art, but to make references to McCarthyism is beyond stupid.
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