When I first saw the cover art for the Roots new CD Rising Down, I just laughed, because I thought it was genius. I was already familiar with the original image and what it referred to, and I think that is the difference between most blacks who will just see the image for the first time and think that it is offensive. Well I hope they don't make them change it. Maybe it'll get black people and others to go and look back at how this country's attitude toward blacks have been and still are to a certain degree. The only difference today is that, it's not politically correct to voice that type of opinion in polite company. Kudos to the Roots!!!

I see the cover as having therapeutic value.
It's a reminder of the reality we've faced, and also seems to be the Roots saying (to racist factions): I'll be dat, but you won't like me when I'm angry.

Maybe I read to deeply into it, but it was my first reaction. With Mos Def's Black Boogeyman track, and Nas' 'provocative' album title, I see a community desire to overcome these images that have been psychologically damaging for too long. These brothers are onto something, and not in the ignorant sense associated with the n-i-g-g-a phenomenon.

The criminalized and demonized images of black people
are so deeply ingrained in Americana, yet many folks turn away thinking maybe the problem will go away if they don't look and pretend its not happening.
This album cover faces the problem head on.

This sort of reminds me of Marvin Gaye's cover for In Our Lifetime?Has so much meaning behind it.

@ Stylus:

Thanks for this. Now that i have seen the original cartoon, it's all coming back to me now from my Black Studies class in undergrad. This cover should still manage to scare the hell out of some of The Roots' fans LOL.

live at WPFW? WHUR is at Howard, not 'PFW.

The album cover is actually a historical reference.

The cartoon is called "Negro Rule" and was a product of the Raleigh News And Observer fanning the flames of fear that the end of slavery would result in negroes running amok against whites.

Those aren't slaves catching a bad one in the cartoon. They're good Christian white folk fleeing the wrath of the unleashed Black Debil!

Malik B, Dice Raw, Chrisette & Wale! Yes, yes, yes!