Just Joking? Chimps, Obama and Racial Stereotype.

The article presents a discussion of U.S. President Barack Obama from the standpoint of his impact on visual culture. It focuses on the ways in which racist stereotypes have been used against him in political propaganda. The significance of Obama's status as the first African American president is noted. Topics related to the history of racial symbolism and race relations in America are discussed in this context. Some of the ways in which Obama has been visually represented in American popular culture are analyzed. These include offensive images involving chimpanzees and watermelons.