Monkey-like image was the top ranking Google search for Michelle Obama
Have you recently searched for Michelle Obama on Google? If you have, you would have been presented with a rather offensive and racists image of the current First Lady of the Unites States. The top ranking search result for the First Lady is a picture that has been altered to make her look like a monkey. The image is posted on a blog called Hot Girls which contains other normal images of Michelle Obama. (See image below)
Most people would agree that the image is offensive. For those who do not know why it is racist, there is a well established and widely known history of black people being linked to monkeys, apes, gorillas, and chimpanzees by racists.
Despite a number of complaints and protests, the image would not be removed from the Google search because Google has a bias towards free speech, and the offence it causes is not enough to remove it according to Google’s spokesman Scott Rubin.
Google has instead taken out an online ad called “Offensive search result” in attempt to explain to its users why the offensive image is ranked so high on the Google search. Extract of the Google ad is below (for the full ad, read it here)
Sometimes Google search results from the Internet can include disturbing content, even from innocuous queries. We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not in any way endorsed by Google. [...] The beliefs and preferences of those who work at Google, as well as the opinions of the general public, do not determine or impact our search results. [...] We apologize if you've had an upsetting experience using Google. We hope you understand our position regarding offensive results.A different website with the same offensive image of Michelle Obama was banned by Google several days ago, on the grounds that the site was deemed to contain malware that could spread a virus. The Hot Girls blog that is hosting this image currently is connected to Google because it is produced using Blogger, an online blogging tool owned by Google.
Google spokesman Rubin said that Blogger users have to adhere to the site's terms of service, including a ban on hate speech, which the agreement defined as "content that promotes hate or violence towards groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status or sexual orientation/gender identity."
Rubin did not comment on Hot Girls blog specifically but stated that an image alone does not violate the Bloggers terms of service. He said that a determination of hate speech, under the Blogger’s terms of service, relies heavily on whether a site was "attacking or advocating attacks on a person."
This comes three to four months after Google search was involved in another race allegation scandal (see image below).
For those that cannot see the alleged racist element, it appears that Google search tool finds it incomprehensible that white people could steal a car that the search naturally assumed that the user must have meant black people.
This allegation erupted in August as people started to send the screenshot to their friends. As part of the research for this article, I performed several searches using white people and could not find the same or similar response from Google search.
What do you think about the Michelle Obama's image? Is it offensive? Is it racist? Should Google remove it from it search results?
Tell us in the comment box below
Labels: Barack Obama, Google, Michelle Obama, Racists



2 Comments:
The image is definitely racist, offensive and sickening. I am ashamed for this country, yet I am glad that other nations now know what minorities in America have known all along: racism is alive and thriving in America, and has reared its monstrous head with the election of a black president. Knowing one's weakness is the first step to correcting the problem.
Michelle Obama is beautiful in features, body and essence, and is probably the classiest First Lady since Jackie Kennedy.
Now that the racists see an intelligent, beautiful President and First Lady, they've gone berserk - unable to face the fact that there are no superior races...just superior individuals who represent the best of mankind.
Racism in America is represented by a considerable minority - maybe 25%. Most of these people are uneducated, ignorant, and fear a world where the only thing they felt they could control was a belief they are superior, simply because they are white. Driving this fear are Republicans, powerful corporate elites, Rupert Murdochs, right wing Christian groups, and racist talking heads like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. These are dangerous, anti-Americans and have no place in the public eye or the ability to manipulate the fears of the people.
We can now add Scott Rubin and Google to this list of racist fear mongers. I will not be using Google as a search engine in the future.
If America is to survive this Depression (let's not kid ourselves that this is a recession), Americans will need to address the real enemies in this country: 1) the wealthy who put us in this mess, 2) the Republican Party that serves the wealthy, and 3) racism.
Greed, immorality, fear and hate have ruined other great empires throughout history. America better get its act together fast because we are quickly heading in that direction.
While I agree that the image was racist and repugnant, and embarrasses me as an American, I do agree with Google's decision.
Regardless of such ignorance required to not only create an image for one's own enjoyment, but to post it publicly (and shamelessly), I think that there's a reason freedom of speech is the very first amendment. Our founding father's saw the wisdom in not censoring it's people (within reason).
The way I see it, like you said, the racist people who would get this and laugh is a definite minority in the grand scheme of things. They're only making themselves look stupid in the eyes of... well, everyone else.
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