Should “The Simpsons” Tackle Racism?

Even in a world where explicit racism has long since departed the mainstream, there is still lots of evidence that it continues to operate covertly and implicitly. And it’s genuinely surprising how little we get on this subject from The Simpsons, especially compared to its more vulgar and candid competitors like Southpark, Family Guy, and American Dad. In these jaded times, I think people prefer animated comedies that don’t hesitate to really take the gloves off. If you agree, mister Groening, you’ll need to change your show a little. And if I may hazard a specific suggestion, a good first step might be to stop glossing over the issue of racism.