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Posted May. 11, 2007, 3:03 p.m. ET
Being Black in New York Magazine
By Rebecca Carroll
The May 14 issue of New York magazine offers up the second story in a row featuring a formerly down on his luck, under the radar black man who by some great feat or just general perseverance suddenly becomes newsworthy. The story in the May 7 issue is about the “Subway Superman,” Wesley Autry, who jumped in front of an oncoming subway to save the life of a stranger, and has since received national praise, recognition, money, and expensive clothes (the story was illustrated in part by a picture of Wesley dressed head to toe in fur looking every bit like the pimp next door). The May 14 story, “The Panhandler's Payday,” is about Eddie Wise, a hustler who figured out a way to sue the city of New York, and won a check for $100,000. The story is furnished with a pull quote that reads: “Everybody is thinking I'm going to be broke pretty soon, that I'm going to spend $100,00 on crack,” says Eddie. And by everybody, he might as well mean people who read New York magazine.
I have been a subscriber to New York for over 10 years, and despite its clear elitism and consistently I'm-cooler-than-you-whiter-than-you-and-richer-than-you tone, I enjoy it. And I'm a complete sucker for its crossword puzzle. But these two back-to-back stories about poor, unknown black people who emerge from relative anonymity to become interesting enough for the pages of New York magazine have made me question my willingness to continue turning a blind eye to its blatant patronization.
How do the smart, talented, obviously educated writers and editors at New York not see the embarrassing presumptuousness of their racial profiling, and the complete reaffirmation of disconcerting stereotypes some of us black folks work very hard to undo? Did someone really say “Yeah, let's photograph Wesley looking like a pimp! That'll be great!” and not realize how hideous that makes him look? How much it undermines his heroism? Did they not even make the pimp connection? And with the Eddie Wise story, as both a magazine editor and a reader, I ask: Is the quote in which a former crack addict talks about the possibility or probability of blowing a big chunk of money on crack really the most compelling way to bring the reader along through the story? How about the inarguable logic Eddie offers about the benefits of being a hustler: “Be my own boss. Work my own hours. Be off what days I want to be off.” Sounds good to me. Where do I sign up?
The point is, these men deserve some agency, and some respect. If you're going to exploit their stories, at least allow them to be multidimensional.
Comments
Ok so if there were no stories on any anonymous black men would you not be screaming out that the NewYorker never gives the common black man any regard.I seriously doubt that the NewYorker dressed Wesley autry in the clothes that you think make him look like a pimp...heres a wild idea;maybe he likes that look ....and maybe its possible that those men had nothing multidimensional about them.Isnt Eddie Wise basically giving his true persona to the magazine .....and the NewYorker is only accurately quoting him..?I myself admire the honesty ....(and I only give money to homeless people who admit they are going to get lit or buy a drink.)I think your searching for something that is not in these people .......not everyone is a poet or deep thinker...and PAPER magazine does not highlight the deepest personas themselves.Its all about the " IN " scene .....which is fine.
Posted at 5:42 p.m. ET on May 11, 2007 by randy focazio
First of all, I'm talking about NEW YORK magazine; not THE NEW YORKER -- two very different beasts. And second, multidimensional doesn't mean poetic or thoughtful, it means just what it sounds like: having more than one dimension.
Posted at 5:58 p.m. ET on May 11, 2007 by rebecca carroll
The magazine does not matter .......but ok I made that mistake....seems like you are simply looking to point out a racism issue where it seems unwaranted .......or again are looking to find something that just may not exist in these men but think should or was intentionally left out as some insiduous plot .....come on the guy sais he would most likely buy crack or whatever with his money and you get upset because the magazine used his quote as a highlight....otr you are argueing that they intentionally made Wesley Autry into some cliche pimp figure because he wore clothing of that fashion....whats yr argument ...honestly I forget....? I dont doubt these men may have dreams or something more to them but ....thats not what they were written upo for ...or it seems communicated to the magazine in hand...sometimes what you see is what you get no...? maybe you should find them and doa more indepthful interview since you feel so strongly.
Posted at 1:43 a.m. ET on May 13, 2007 by randy focazio
Is it possible that only you saw the pimp connection in the Wesley Autry photograph....? and so you do not think I am blindly attacking you for no reason I can understand your feelings about the racial stereotyping ....but again I say that your looking into something you want to see that is just not there .....and how can you you say the quote about Eddie Wise is not justifiable since he admitted to having money before and blowing it on crack ,its a perfectly valid question and one I want to know the answer to one day.....I think that its possible you yourself have a stereotype of white( or ok NEWYORK magazine readers in general ) people and their views of black people not to mention what kind of article does or does not have dimension....PAPER magazine is full on non dimensional stories about who was at what night club or artists that are all hype and nothing else .....the eddie wise article illustrates who the man is ....without questioning perhaps his view on art or politicS.....explain what else you would want if you interviewed edie wise or better yet go do a interview ....but I doubt its really PAPER magazine material....
Posted at 2:22 a.m. ET on May 13, 2007 by randy focazio
While your points are fine, let me remind: It's a BLOG. These words are my opinion, my observations (so yeah, no doubt, it's what I see; may or may not be looking to see, doesn't really matter, I see it). To your first point, in the magazine business we use what are called pull quotes: a particularly provocative phrase or quote to attract readers and keep them interested throughout the piece. Given that Eddie is a former crack addict and has blown money on crack before, it's not really so provocative or compelling to suggest that he might do it again. Not only that, it's so predictable, so remarkably unremarkable, to associate a black man with crack and blowing money.
Your second point(s): Of course I have stereotypes about white New York magazine readers -- first of all, I've been in the industry for 10 years. But also, stereotypes aren't stereotypes for no good reason. You see enough of one thing and you think another that is ostensibly like it will be exactly the same. I didn't say it was shocking or unprecedented to hold a stereotype -- simply that New York magazine might be more mindful as to the regularity and ways in which they present them in their pages.
Posted at 4:24 p.m. ET on May 14, 2007 by rebecca carroll
this post is based on the original posters comments. dimension doesnt imply onesidedness. The NEW YORK magazine is a magazine appealing to or predominantly read by elitist white audiences. so pieces chronicling downtrodden negroes and their singular claims to status might be inline with said audiences need for the occasional chuckle or noncritical writeup. perhaps it is not the New York's place to critically praise or analyze successful blacks and their stories. the demos probably have little interest in this. this doesnt surprise me, white media will pander to white ideals or perverted conceptions.
aUTRY's "pimp" attire may be a reflection of black male style taste. As white male veerings to testicle cringing effeminate paint-on levis is another. Black press could equally criticize white male fashion as homo leaning and biitch-like, no? No worries however, as spanish-america, asian-america and black-america alike, in time, will feature biased, one-dimensional reviews of white males in their elitest magazines . to the obvious readers who cry of non-existent pubs, well ur right perhaps. but demos and income growth will lead to said minorities gaining their own NEW YORK.
Then blacks, asians and hispanics will be the racist, one-dimensional, panderers to their own narrow-minded folks. which is a pt i lust after.
Oh, and i am black male in the 20-29 demo writing this.
Posted at 8:56 p.m. ET on May 18, 2007 by chris
Thankyou Chris.....YES...! ! ! I think Autrys pimp attire is something that is simply the in fashion now for male style tastes.....much like Gangster life is marketed as being kool and drifted into white youth subcultureS....
I think one has to question their own racial views when trying to scream out racism.Sometimes a story is just a story ......
Posted at 11:11 p.m. ET on May 26, 2007 by randy focazio
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