Is the picture cute, sad or disturbing?

[Playinghardball]

This image was captured: Sept. 5, 1992.



“The whole key to that picture is the expression on that trooper’s face,” How do YOU read it? Would you feel differently about this picture if the officer that toddler is interacting with was not African-American?

Learn more about this photo at: http://bit.ly/KKK-toddler

The story about this picture is interesting in my opinion..

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Sad and disturbing.

Even if the trooper had been white, it still would be sad and disturbing.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. It's sad and disturbing to think that anyone would raise their child with such bigotry.

I would feel just as sad and disturbed regardless of the ethnicity of the officer in the picture. Hatred is a terrible thing to teach a child.

[ladjf]

3. It's a cute kid. I can't see any expression on the officer's face.

On the negative side, that cute kid may have some serious social problems as it matures.

It would be interesting to know what the child thinks about the photograph forty years from now.

[busterbrown]

4. You Have Got To Be Carefully Taught!

[loyalsister]

5. There is nothing cute about Klan wear

It's SICK and disturbing. Just like the confederate flag, it's a symbol of the most extreme hateful expressions of racism.

[Marrah_G]

6. I feel so bad for that child

It really makes me want to cry.

[Jenoch]

11. That "child" is now about 22 years old.

I wonder what kind of a person he/she is today?

Edit to add, I read the story. His name is Josh and he is now 23 years old.

[Marrah_G]

13. I hope he managed to get away from the hate somehow.

[Jenoch]

14. Make sure you read the story.

The photo almost haunts the photographer after it has been revived on the internet.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

7. More poignant because 2 officers are African-American...

but definitely sad and disturbing. Cute? NO.

[Jeff R]

8. Disturbing

On so many levels. Extremely sad on so many more.

[Quantess]

9. It's child abuse to make a toddler participate in a Klan rally.

I think it's very sad. But the photo itself is fascinating.

[hamsterjill]

10. It is all three.

It's cute because it's just a little kid who is curious enough to reach out and touch the State Trooper's shield without regard for the State Trooper's color.

It is sad because of the fact that if a parent would go to this length to dress their child in this way, one can infer that this child will be brought up with a certain set of beliefs and will, at a minimum, have a very difficult time learning to have an open mind himself. He will either grow up with the same hate that his parent has, or he will be forced to fight against those beliefs within in his family unit. I feel sorry for the child.

It is disturbing for much the same reason, except I'll assign the disturbing aspect to the parent. And I don't have any sympathy for a parent who would try to teach a sweet, innocent child to hate someone on sight.

[GreenEyedLefty]

12. My daughter was born in November of 1990

Based on what I know of toddlers, the kid in the picture and my daughter would be around the same age - early 20s.

I wonder what became of him, what kind of person he has turned out to be...

On edit: I found this article about the trooper whose shield the child was looking at.

[JI7]

15. all 3, the kid himself seems to have no problem with that black man

look at how he gets close to him and is curious about random objects like any little kid.

sad and disturbing for the parents who make him dress that way and try to push something onto him. hopefully he grew up not to be that way.