Atlanta Residents Debate Meaning Of Controversial ‘Negro Season’ Graffiti

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Screenshot Via WBRC-TV

Graffiti that has shown up in the Midtown section of Atlanta has some residents trying to determine the meaning of the image that has suddenly appeared.

A drawing of cartoon character Elmer Fudd with a shotgun in hand beneath a sign reading “Negro season” was recently painted on the side of a building which is the headquarters for Allied Barton,  a security company that provides armed and uniformed security officers in the Atlanta area.

Most residents see the artwork as being racially motivated,  an encouragement for police to hunt down and kill African-Americans, but some say they think it’s an indictment of the police and their incompetence.

One woman remarked:

“It makes people feel unsafe, you know, uncomfortable.”

A man who saw the drawing commented:

“He’s trying to intimidate black people.”

And a second woman said when she saw it, her reaction was:

“He’s definitely white. I don’t see why somebody would want to do that if he was being racist to his own kind.”

There is even one theory floating around that posits the notion of it being a  “political statement” from a Black Lives Matter activist.

Others say no matter what the message may be, the drawing should be appreciated as good art. One man said:

“Some people could take it offensive. Some people can take it who they want to take it. Me personally, I look at it, it’s dope art, that’s how I look at it.”

Having looked closely at the drawing, I have to admit that I’m somewhat conflicted by what I see. But my personal opinion is that it should be painted over. If some want to lionize the image as art,  they can always take a picture of it with their cell phone and appreciate it as often as they want to.