Caricatures/cartoons and symbols

Caricatures

https://www.shutterstock.com/search/donald+trump+caricature

https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/antiblack/

We have seen caricatures for years. Almost every president has been caricatured.  Donald Trumps’ caricature generally accents his hair.  Richard Nixon’s caricature accented his nose.  

Wikipedia says, “A caricature is a rendered image showing the features of its subject in a simplified or exaggerated way through sketching, pencil strokes, or through other artistic drawings.”

Caricatures can be comical  - or not.  

My link to Ferris State University Museum gives us caricatures of Black people.  

For example, Mammy

“From slavery through the Jim Crow period, the mammy caricature served the political, social, and economic interests of mainstream white America. During slavery, the mammy caricature presented the idea that blacks-in this case, black women-were content, and even happy, as slaves. Her wide grin, hearty laugher, and loyal servitude were offered as evidence of the supposed humanity of the institution of slavery.

“The mammy caricature romanticized the realities of slave and servant life and obscured the unequal foundation of the master-servant power structure. Portrayed as an obese, coarse, maternal figure, the mammy had a great love for her white "family," but often treated her own family with disdain. Although she had children, sometimes many, she was, by mainstream standards, sexually unappealing. She "belonged" to the white family, though it was rarely stated. She was a faithful worker. She had no black friends; the white family was her entire world.”

In a recent announcement, Quaker Oats has indicated they will end the "Aunt Jemima" Brand of Pancake batter and syrup.    Although smiling and loving very positively, she is dressed as "Mammy".

Uncle Ben's rice might get a new name and look as well. Some are calling on the Washington Redskins to change their name and image (again).

We might have to talk about 'revisionist history' some day. I am a bit on both sides. It was a bad time - for example, the Civil War has one cause in slavery. It was a dark day in American History - but it was a day that did happen.

*****

As I grew up, along many (older) streets you might find a statue for tying up your horse.  

“The lawn jockey is a decorative yard ornament that caricatures black people and promotes the idea of their servitude. Typically a cast replica about half-scale, it depicts a black man dressed in jockey's clothing carrying a lantern or a metal ring suitable for hitching a horse. The black lawn jockeys often have exaggerated features, such as bulging eyes, large red lips, a flat nose, and curly hair. The flesh of the figure is usually a glossy black color.

“Traditionally, two styles of lawn jockey have been produced: the stocky, hunched "Jocko" and the taller, thinner "Cavalier Spirit." Both styles were still manufactured in 2012. Many Americans, especially African Americans, feel that lawn jockeys are racially offensive. It is common for homeowners to repaint the figure's skin with pink or white paint to avoid charges of being racially insensitive.

*****

“In the United States, all racial groups have been caricatured, but none as often or in as many ways as black Americans. Blacks have been portrayed in popular culture as pitiable exotics, cannibalistic savages, hypersexual deviants, childlike buffoons, obedient servants, self-loathing victims, and menaces to society.

*****

I was born in 1947, just after World War II. As a child, I remember cartoons and caricatures of Japanese - with exaggerated slanted eyes and big lips.  

In Ireland, which for many years was ‘owned’ by England (aka The United Kingdom), Irish were pictured as alcoholics, feeble-minded, and really needed “smart people from England” to run their country (my words).  I remember the major discussion in 1960 about electing John Kennedy as President, that we would be putting a Catholic in the highest office in our land - and he would have a phone where the Pope could call him and dictate directions to our President.

We like to put down others.  We have stereotypes.  Let’s see … (what I think I learned).  Germans are all engineers. German trains always run on time.  French are great lovers and great cooks (but don’t ask them to run the railroad).  And, don’t ask the English to be chefs - “all” English food is blah. Spanish are lazy - after all, they take a siesta every afternoon. People from Poland are dumb. Russians are also alcoholics drinking vodka all day long.  Chinese have big buck teeth and slanted eyes. I grew up hearing “the only good Indian is a dead Indian”.

Yes, it might be fun at a street fair or carnival to have a cartoonist draw you (and your spouse or children) as caricatures. You might get a laugh as of course, you don’t look like that.  

Caricatures have been used to divide people.  Cartoons have been used to categorize people.  If something is done for fun - and all understand and know it, that might be okay.  But, when cartoons and caricatures are used to make fun of groups, that might be an area to discuss.

In this time of increased anxiety over race and tolerance, we need to put more thought into our symbols.

Hugs!

Karen