Offensive Photo Of Black Man Was Humor, Selectman Candidate Says

STOUGHTON, MA — A profile photo on selectmen candidate Peter Buckley's Facebook page of a black man with an exaggerated nose and lips isn't racist, but it is funny, according to the candidate.

The offensive photo with unknown origins was discovered on Buckley's page by Stoughton resident and former Interim Town Manager Joe Feaster, who then reported it to the Enterprise. When reached for comment by the paper, Buckley said the photo was just humor and if it was really bad, someone would have contacted him when he posted it in 2012.

Few people are laughing at Buckley's idea of comedy. The NAACP's Brockton branch said the post is insensitive and if Buckley can't see the problem with it, then he is the problem.

To Buckley, maybe it is just humor, albeit terrible and unfunny to most people. A scan of the images publicly available to see on his Facebook page shows plenty of photos featuring lame jokes and sophomoric humor. No content prior to 2013 is publically available.

Tuesday afternoon, Buckley apologized for the photo and claimed in a statement posted on the Stoughton News Facebook page that he removed the photo as his profile picture after it was brought to his attention that people were offended by it, but he did not realize that the photo remained in his profile.

"I don’t expect everyone to just move on right away, and I both deserve and own the criticism now, as I did then. I cannot please everyone and I am not perfect, but I make myself accountable to, and willing and able to serve everyone I hope that people will consider this response," Buckley said.

Buckley is one four candidates running for selectman in the April 10 election. Also running are board chairman Bob O’Regan, Stephen Cavey and former Selectman Peter Brown.

Image: File Photo