Posted on 07/10/2008 5:39:29 AM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
A comic-book character popular in Mexico for generations has run into a cultural barrier at the border, where Americans see him as a racist caricature.
For more than 60 years Mexicans have followed the adventures of "Memin Pinguin." But the dark-skinned Memin's exaggerated features in "Memin for President" came as a shock to Houston, Texas, Wal-Mart shopper Shawnedria McGinty.
"I was like, OK, is that a monkey or a boy?" McGinty said. "To me it was an insult."
She'd never heard of "Memin Pinguin." She bought a Spanish-English dictionary and tried translating but still didn't like what she saw.
"So I asked my boyfriend, does that look like a monkey to you?" she said. "And we went back and forth and he was like, no, that's a black woman," referring to the character's Aunt Jemima-like mother.
McGinty and Houston community activist Quannel X want the comic books removed from the stores.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Since they’re not white guys, the PC Nazis will find a way to let this pass.
Im glad to see this story growing legs. The Mocha Messiah will have to make a comment on it if enough attention is given to the story. The Mexicans dont think PC rules apply to them. How wrong they are...
This situation aside, my comment when people throw such nonsense my way:
“Your hypersensitivity is not my problem. My history and character is well established.”
Shawnedria and Quannel X....and they wonder why people won’t take them seriously...how can you with names like that.
Shawnedria sounds like something you could catch and take Quannel X to cure
To me it sounds like a typo.
tsk, tsk. Judging other peoples cultural icons in such a poor light. Not very multicultural.
I don’t know why CNN is even reporting this story, unless they can blame it on Bush, the Republicans or global warming. The MSM has become so politically polarized that I watch it to try and catch the infrequent report that doesn’t have ‘liberal agenda’ written all over it. I’m amazed at how rarely that occurs.
So Memin has been around for 60 years, eh? Im glad to see the creators evolved him to reflect a more modern day looking character. Im not a PC hound but I can understand why black folks would have a problem here. On the other hand, demanding something to be taken off the shelves is a little counter to our sense of freedom to read what we want.
Did he have blue lips too?
I think there is only one Sambo’s restaurant left in california thanks to the PC nazis.
Clearly this cannot be since African-Americans have ensured us that only white people (like me) are racist!
Mexico doesn’t suffer PC disease as bad as the US.
There isn’t anyone left who can be a caricature.
Presumably the artwork is done by Mexicans ~ since this is clearly not the sort of thing any American would do.
Mexicans caricaturing people that Americans won't caricature!
“Houston community activist Quannel X”
There is no such job as “community activist”.
Apparently QX will be hosting a press conference in front of the Wal-mart that the comic was purchased at. The W-store being sensitive and all that, has pulled the comic.
QX - 1
WMT - 0
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.