Minority leaders saddened, not shocked by ‘racist’ LaFortune picture

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Mayoral candidate Nirva LaFortune slammed the Providence Journal for choosing a “racist” picture of her, unlike her male opponents, in a recent publication.

Minority leaders in Rhode Island said while this is saddening, it is not shocking.

The journal published an article in Tuesday’s issue about the mayoral race. The photos used for candidates Gonzalo Cuervo and Brett Smiley were professional headshots, while the photo used of LaFortune was one where she appears to be angry.

“Whether it was intentional or not, it was wrong,” said LaFortune at an event Tuesday. “I don’t look like someone who is approachable in that image. I don’t look like someone you want to be your leader.”

Two weeks away from primary elections, Sen. Tiara Mack said she is concerned this may affect the race.

“This is one of the most clear examples of how they treat women and Black women,” said Mack. “Her face is literally sandwiched between two other faces, both who are male, who are lighter complexion. Each image, side-by-side, tells a completely different story.”

She concluded, “Nirva is a real person who two weeks before elections, the media has portrayed her as the ‘angry, black woman.'”

Harrison Tuttle, executive director of Black Lives Matter RI PAC, explained this is just one example over centuries of misrepresentation of minority leaders.

“It’s awful what happened, but it isn’t shocking by any means,” said Tuttle. “I was growing up seeing Obama being connected to Middle Eastern terrorist groups — it puts an image in people’s heads.”

He concluded, “I think if we had a person of color in the newsroom that could say, ‘Hey, this isn’t good. Let me teach you why this is hurtful.’ Maybe, we wouldn’t have had that today.”

David Ng, executive editor for the Providence Journal, said a statement: “We regret the photo selected for this story and sincerely apologize.”