PETA: DISMANTLE YOUR ANTI-AFRIKAN EXHIBIT!

PETA: DISMANTLE YOUR ANTI-AFRIKAN EXHIBIT!

WE are horrified and enraged by your latest advertising campaign, which likens the suffering of kidnapped, shackled, terrorized, raped, lynched and butchered Africans in America and throughout the diaspora to the plight of animals. The plight of animals, however legitimate, is only bastardized by your campaign, despite your quotes and fancy typography. We recognize this degradation of our honored ancestors to be what it is: a cheap exercise in giving "shock value" to gain publicity for your organization. Since the "shock value" of the animals themselves was not sufficient for your goals, you have apparently decided in your meetings to add African slaves, Native Americans, and child laborers to "up the ante", the brunt of which is borne by heart-stopping tortuous imagery of African people.

Did you ever once, in any of your meetings, stop to think about the human victims of this torture, brutality and murder most foul you have so arrogantly claimed as your own? What would they have felt, reasoned, and philosophized of your ignorant, sophomoric conclusions as to what their loves, lives, and pulsebeats represented in this world, and to our people: Our lost leaders, their timeless speeches, music, art, books, brilliance, contributions none of us could ever fathom, all snatched away by greedy imperialism and white supremacy. It is in no way comparable, and completely and totally unacceptable.

This publicity stunt of yours will not help your organization gain support: Your "suspension" of your highly touted 42-city tour MUST become a cancellation. Throwing a bone to quiet down civil rights organizations will not end the outcry of our people and the only action you can take at this juncture is to insure that there is absolutely no hint of this exhibit anywhere. At present, the continued existence of it online is proof positive that your intentions are not to abandon your heinously callous debasement of the worth of our African ancestors, nor are we satisified that you won't at some point resume your "suspended" tour.

The African Liberation Struggle is completely and totally unique and must never be co-opted, diluted, or in any way likened to any other struggle in history! Neither should the court-approved supremacist notion of Africans being subhuman ever rear its ugly head by any organization at any time! These wounds are much too deep and ongoing for you, or anyone else, to dare to tread upon.

WE URGE YOU IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS TO IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW THIS BLATANT DISRESPECT OF OUR PEOPLE AND NO LONGER TOY WITH OUR HONORED ANCESTORS, MANY OF WHOSE LIVES WERE STOLEN WHILE FIGHTING FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES FREEDOM.