CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After a racist diatribe by its creator Scott Adams, the office themed comic strip ‘Dilbert’ was justifiably fired by its distributor, Andrews McMeel Universal, book publisher and hundreds of news outlets that carried it, including cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer.
In his ‘Letter from the Editor’ Chris Quinn said the dropping of Dilbert “is not a difficult decision.” And it wasn’t a ‘cancel culture’ decision either.
“No, this is a decision based on the principles of this news organization and the community we serve. We are not a home for those who espouse racism. We certainly do not want to provide them with financial support.”
Adams had labeled Blacks a ‘hate group’ and said " get the hell away from Black people” during a social media podcast.
On his You Tube live stream, ‘Real Coffee with Scott Adams” the comic strip creator was commenting on a Rasmussen Reports poll that found 47% of Blacks either disagreed or were insure about the phrase: “It’s okay to be white.”
That phrase had been adopted by white supremacist and right wing groups. The Anti-Defamation League has denounced it as a hate-chant.
Those Rasmussen poll results set off Scott Adams diatribe that got Dilbert dropped.
“It turns out that nearly half of that team [Blacks] doesn’t think I’m okay to be white. I’m going to back off from being helpful to Black America because it doesn’t seem like it pays off. I get called a racist. That’s the only outcome. It makes no sense to help Black Americans if you’re white. It’s over. Don’t even think it’s worth trying.”
“I’m not saying start a war or do anything bad. Nothing like that. I’m just saying get away. Just get away.”
Sounds like ‘Dilbert’ and Scott Adams just need to get away to diversity training.
*Commentary continues below second version of cartoon and advertisement
'Dilbert' creator Scott Adams called Blacks a 'Hate Group' in a You Tube live stream segment.
The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com are part of the Advance/Local chain of newspapers and websites. All of them have dropped Dilbert. Proud to be part of an organization that sets such standards.
When I listened to Scott Adam’s entire racist diatribe what came to mind is how I was raised by my parents Jim and Maryann and their example. Thought of the Black family that had moved into my best friend’s house in Fairview Park, how I babysat the kids and they played with all the other neighborhood kids in our front yard. Thought of the Asian family who lived at the end of the street.
Also who quickly came to mind are all my Black colleagues I’ve been fortunate to work with in my 30 years here at cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer--Dianne Griggs, Phillip Morris, Gloria, Raquel, Roger, Sharon, Elanda and Dolly to name just a few. Dilbert has made Scott Adams a very wealthy man at 65. But I feel far richer for having the experience of working alongside my Black colleagues.
With his Black-Out, Scott Adams has ‘White-Out’ his comic strip, career and reputation. He needs to apologize and redraw with a pencil and pen not pointed like a KKK hat.