But this is the main argument being used to defend this art and it’s amazing. Black folks cussing out other Blacks who are tired of negative imagery. That is some of the most ignorant, backwards bs I have ever heard. It’s cool to not understand the controversy, but even the writer’s words ‘black folks protesting stuff they have no biz protesting’ raises questions. And for the ‘well why don’t yall protest this and that’–how do you know the critics of this mural haven’t already voiced their opinions re: coonery in the media? You can’t get a show like Flava of Luv cancelled because the network is a conglomerate monster. But a mural in Times Square is more accessible, and some people have chosen to speak out against it. What is wrong with that? And as far as the “art” itself (aside from the racial subtext)-does anyone really see the beauty or aesthetic value of this mural, or is it just an excuse to make an attempt to practice reverse classism?

and again- why is it that when some Black people don’t relate to the certain types of art (this mural, Tyler Perry flicks-lol), the first word to be shouted is BOURGIE? Is that the best you can do-not relating to these images is the same as ‘yall just trying to be white, and make white folks like yall! Ya’ll bougie mofos ain’t keeping it RE-ALLLLLL!!!’-not the most original thought, is it?

This mural is only seen by people who are in the neighborhood…. but since these very people who wanted the mural taken down created so much drama about it, now there is media coverage, so more people get to view it. DOH!? Protest FAIL!

People who are protesting this mural should be protesting the media to stop promoting scantily clad women period. By the way, we see enough stiffs (people in business suits and briefcases) walking down the street, we don’t need to see a mural of it.

The reality is, the Times Square Alliance allowed this to happen and they and had a number of pieces to chose from, so lets not act like this chick did not know what she was allowed to paint. She got her check of $10,000 and did what they told her to do. So you ignorant fools keep going on about how she is great and is so talented, when the truth is …..this was an assault by those white so called artistic executives who run the Times Square Alliance, to once again disrespect black folks. Point of information….If it were not for some of those Black woman of yesterday that this mural mocks in parody, that Latina would have never gotten the opportunity to have this monstrosity placed in Times Square in the name of Art!!!!

Quite frankly I think the people who are against this mural need to take a look in the mirror. A lot of the language I’m hearing in the blogosphere from the people protesting this mural says way more about them than Ms. Maldonado. Why is it that “ghetto” has become an adjective to project every sort of neurotic classist, sexist “we’re not like THOSE (insert slur for working class ethnic group of your choice here)” nonsense from the Jack & Jill set? It’s a self-imposed caste system and it’s disgusting.

No, I’m not into that kind of street culture personally. But as a queer, non-conformist black woman deeply involved in alternative subcultures I’ve gotten my share of shit from these bougie types in my own family for not conforming to their ideas of what upstanding black women are supposed to look like. Art is supposed to provoke thought, get people talking. Good art is not supposed to be edgy for edgy’s sake, but it often DOES make people uncomfortable and challenge people to examine their beliefs and prejudices. PoC women in particular seem to be damned if we do and damned if we don’t. These bougie assholes need to focus on issues that matter and stop trying to silence a Latin@ artist. Dress it up however you want to, whether it’s disingenuous “what about the children” crap or whatever, it’s just the same old Victorian BS colored brown, punishing women for daring to do something they don’t approve of. If they disapprove of this woman’s art, why don’t they take some of that time and money and sponsor a starving PoC artist whose artistic voice they approve of. But I bet the Kyriarchy is laughing again at us doing its work for it.

I think this is the typical case of conservative attitudes slandering art that isn’t agreeable to them, and cares to sow all of us that this isn’t about race but about perceptions and values.