I have no read the article nor am I familiar with the magazine. However, as a French citizen, I am surprise that you think that this photo evokes prejudice. The title “After Bush, why America should re-invent itself.” is by no mean inflammatory. Further, when I look at the cover photo, I see a symbol of hope and have to assume that your comments are rather based on the content of the article. Not to be blinded by undue patriotism or forgetting France misconducts, I would also add that segregation has never been part of the culture. I would conclude that our reaction to a photograph may be, in part, biased by our own experiences.

Alexandre,
It is very possible that I reacted too instinctively (and negatively) to this cover image. I've been reading a lot of the American press about the election campaigns, and for some reason, this cover (and its omnipresent large advertisements) seemed to embody a lot of what is felt and insinuated (but rarely directly spoken) by people who wish to discredit Obama in the media. I appreciate your comment, and I would be delighted for the French (and the rest of the world) to see this cover as "a symbol of hope" as you suggest. But metaphor is tricky business, and easy to misconstrue.

I saw the cover a few days ago while walking in the street. And then I remember I've been thinking about Obama, cause the little boy is black. It means that for me: after bush comes Obama. But it's biased, for sure, because I would largely support Obama if I was american... (But I suppose some could say I'm sexist ?!)

This all reminds me of the Roland Barthes discourse over the Paris Match cover.

http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/ram0207.html

Wow! Thanks for the link. That's pretty heady stuff, but really perfect given the set and setting of this particular issue.

Your web site is pretty cool too. I like the "legless" photos.

I only understood the "After Bush" - couldn't understand the rest of the french.

Whether the image and the article are supporting the idea of Obama's unsullied hopefulness, his woeful lack of experience, or the picaninny moving up from the back of the bus I can't say.

Photos of attractive children of any color are always engaging and elicit a positive response. Remember the Nat'l Geo photo some 25 years ago of the Afghani girl with the green eyes? - everyone still remembers that National Geographic cover. So this mage may simply be pandering to what's proven to sell the most issues.

Everyone is so scared stiff of saying anything negative about Obama. The Right has been calling Clinton a bitch for so long no one even bats an eye or is offended any more - it's not sexist, its treated as fact. The Media just jumps on every faux pas, every rumor, every poll - their job has become gossip mongering that's masquerading as journalism.

The press is going to make an ongoing story of their struggle to gain supremacy and become the candidate - building up any little comment into a percieved personal vendetta. By the time the convention rolls around that we'll hate them both. And the fucking republicans and Karl will be rubbing their hands with glee.

“The most political decision you make is where you direct people’s eyes”
Wim Wenders, The Act of seeing.

http://politicstheoryphotography.blogspot.com/2008/03/race-election.html

This is a link to a post on this cover image. I have to say that I find Jim's initial assessment persuasive. Treating blacks as childlike is simply thoughtless stereotyping. Jim Johnson

See an extended discussion about this post here:

http://phronesisaical.blogspot.com/2008/03/french-prejudice-towards-obama.html

No disrespect intended but - are you kidding? As a visual artist who makes photo-centric works(by predilection a painter, with an unintended detour in graphic design for over a decade), I understand that I have probably developed a more acute sensitivity to imagery than your average Joe. I nearly fell off my seat as I read posts referring to stereotyping of blacks, embedded prejudice and presumed racist readings of the same magazine cover image which I find strikingly elegant, cleverly conceived, fresh and open; a sophisticated example of nuanced visual metaphor, including, in typical French manner, an unabashedly political stance. I lived in Paris for several years as a young artist and was constant witness of the embrace of other races and cultures. I emphatically disagree with your reading. thanks