Prometheus 6: Let me explain, Eugene

October 21, 2003

Let me explain, Eugene

Mr. Volokh notes one of The BlackCommentator's rather harsh cartoons accompanying a press release from People for the American Way and the NAACP denouncing the nomination of Janice Rogers Brown to the Court of Appeals.

I've never been quite sure what to make of complaints that cartoons exaggerate some stereotypical racial or ethnic features -- on the one hand, I can see why it might be offensive, but on the other hand, they are cartoons, and it's standard procedure for cartoonists to exaggerate everyone's features (though I've never understood why that's seen as so funny). Still, those who generally don't like cartoons that depict blacks with fat lips and vast Afros (and as best I can tell, Justice Brown has neither particularly large lips nor particularly large hair, so it's not like they're mocking her own well-known personal characteristics) might want to note this one.

Let me drop some knowledge, help bridge the cultural divide.

First, the cartoon:

The thing driving the image is the line at the bottom of the cartoon: a "Clarence-like conservative."

Take a look at Justice Brown's face. Compare it to Uncle Clarence's face. They are the same. The artist is, in fact, mocking her own well-known personal characteristics. He's just doing it symbolically. And by the way, that hair she's sporting belongs to Don King, the poster boy for opportunism.

Posted by P6 at October 21, 2003 07:37 PM | Trackback URL: http://www.prometheus6.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2064

Comments

It's a CARTOON... caricatures usually have exaggerated features, especially those where the character has features that can be targeted (i.e. Bill Clinton's nose, Bush's ears).

I also agree with your analyzation of the issue. Good show! :-)

Posted by at October 22, 2003 10:26 AM

The Black Commentator has an article up about the fortunes of the cartoon.

Posted by at October 23, 2003 06:07 PM