LeBron's <em>Vogue</em> Cover Spurs Controversy

The cover of Vogue's April issue -- featuring an Annie Leibowitz photo of LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen, seen to the right -- has been thoroughly digested by this point. But the backlash against the imagery is coming to a head today.

ABC News's Sheila Marikar (via CSTB) spoke with art professor Jason Rosenfeld of Marymount Manhattan College about the image's racial undertones.

"It's one thing to have an athlete in that kind of pose and with that kind of expression on a court after he or she has done something miraculous. It's another thing to couple it with someone who is of an entirely different ilk and gender. That turns it into a racially charged image."

ESPN.com's Jemele Hill also composed a column on the matter, though she casts responsibility on LeBron and the NBA.

Vogue deserves criticism, but more blame should go to LeBron and other black athletes, who need to exercise stricter control of their images. If LeBron is brave enough to wear a Yankees cap at an Indians playoff game, picking up a history book and educating himself shouldn't cause a strain. ... As it is, LeBron was the first African-American male to grace Vogue's cover. Too bad it will be memorable for the wrong reasons.

LeBron's ~~buddies~~ marketing team does keep tight wraps on his image, lest we forget the unfortunate Akron park story from last year. They are the ones who need to learn something from this. (Of course, it is eminently possible that this is the last we'll hear of this controversy, too.)