Harambe's Not Racist, You Are | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Harambe's Not Racist, You Are

Why your love for this fallen gorilla, may he rest in peace, makes you racist.

159
Harambe's Not Racist, You Are
Fusion

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you know who Harambe is. Just in case you don't, he was the gorilla that was shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo after a young boy slipped into his enclosure.

Harambe, may he rest in peace, has since joined the ranks of countless viral internet memes with song parodies and even his own line of merchandise. But this slain primate is more than just a meme, he is the embodiment of a rebellion against an emotionally-driven, severely misguided search for social justice.

Immediately after the shooting of Harambe, the Internet was buzzing with condemnation for the Cincinnati Zoo for their decision to kill the gorilla to protect the child in his grasp. The hashtag, #JusticeforHarambe quickly began trending on social media as people voiced their outrage at the "unjustified" and "tragic" death of the gorilla, despite the clear danger that Harambe presented to the life of the young boy.

The popularity of Harambe memes is a reaction to the irrationality of people protesting the death of a gorilla and disregarding the life of the young boy.

But social justice warriors, never happy being the butt of a joke, are now wanting to purge the internet and college campuses of Harambe's presence.Their tactic in getting rid of Harambe?

Racism.

A Fusion article, Your Favorite Harambe Memes Are Racist. It's Time To Stop Using Themwrites, "there’s another side to Harambe’s popularity—one inexorably tied to racist ideas about black people, Africa, and gorillas—that plays a large, troubling role in the memes’ collective staying power."

Similarly, on college campuses there has been a banning of Harambe memes and references. University of Massachusetts sent a letter to resident students saying, "Any negative remarks regarding ‘Harambe’ will be seen as a direct attack to our campus’s African American community."

Later, Clemson University sent a similar letter to Freshman writing, "If residents are asking why they have to take them down you can share that there was a report from an individual about a meme being offensive and bias [sic] in nature and as a result all Harambe references are no longer allowed within our community."

Moral of the story? If you like Harambe memes, you're a racist.

Except not.

Harambe memes were started in jest, in reaction to the overreaction from those that put the life of a primate over the life of a child. Not seeing where racism comes in? Let me enlighten you.

The racism comes from the social justice warriors themselves. To discredit and silence the internet phenomenon that is at their own expense, they throw around buzzwords to enforce their own form of cultural marxism.

The irony? Social justice warriors (i.e. Vox, Fusion, etc) are the only ones making the disgusting comparison between Harambe and African Americans.

The implication that all people who enjoy Harambe memes are using it as a way to express or revel in closeted racism is laughable. One could almost say it is deplorable.



Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

4449
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

450688
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22330
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

45227
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments