I think people are too sensitive about anything and everything these days, so I don’t really care much about supposed insensitivity. I guess that makes me insensitive. Oh well…

“Maybe this comic has a “classic” look but would there be any problem in updating it, making it slightly more true to life?”

I think this was answered in the second blog post about Memin. It’s a rights issue or something along those lines.

“I am of the opinion that we should be beyond slurs all together.”

I agree.

“Language like that is for ignorant people who want to feel better about themselves at the expense of another group of people.”

Well, yes and no. I don’t even see why some “racial slurs” are considered insulting. Some because I’ve read up on their origins, and some because they just don’t make any sense to me (most likely because I haven’t looked up their origins yet). (“Wop”, for example.)

On the subject of race and proper word usage, another thing that bugs me when it comes to using words properly is when someone is referred to as “Oriental” instead of Asian. Drives me nuts….

Vichus Smith, thanks for another interesting comment.

I don’t know the ins and outs of this comic or the character, but hell, the people who are complaining about or banning it don’t know much about it either. What I do know is that there is and continues to be racial issues involving darker skinned people in the Spanish speaking community. So maybe this long lived cartoon is popular, but what was this character based upon more than half a century ago?

I think that if someone wants to do racial caricatures and perpetuate stereotypes, I would hope that they just realize the fact that we are not isolationist nations without the technology to communicate. Look at how long I haven’t heard of this comic! Maybe this comic has a “classic” look but would there be any problem in updating it, making it slightly more true to life? Ebony White was updated in Darwyn Cooke’s Spirit run, and that did not destroy what the character is.

I agree with you on the use of racial slurs. People shouldn’t care when it comes to slurs, but I am of the opinion that we should be beyond slurs all together. Language like that is for ignorant people who want to feel better about themselves at the expense of another group of people.

I’ll say that most people are racially insensitive or racially ignorant. I think that’s true.

The Memin books are reprints. They should be available, and so should the old cartoons which feature racial stereotypes.

Should ALL stereotypical caricatures be considered shameful or just stereotypical caricatures created by people who don’t belong to the race they’re caricaturing?

“When people say that something is being racist, they are implying that the person who created that thing created something which is seen as racist. Why would you be so literal about it?”

Because I want words to be used properly in accordance with their dictionary definitions. It can be seen as prejudicial and stereotypical, and it may even be seen as having a message which is in support of racism. To prove that something has a message in support of racism you will have to do more than show a picture of a stereotypical caricature and/or pick out a couple of lines of dialog which you find offensive.

“However, if you know your history concerning racism towards blacks, you know that the drawing in question harkens back to extremely blatantly racist imagery. Are we going to pretend that it’s not reminiscent of that?”

I can’t say whether it is or isn’t. That’s up to the creator to answer. However, even if it is reminiscent of racism imagery that doesn’t mean it’s automatically in support of that message. It could be using that imagery to send an anti-racism message.

“On another note you don’t have to prove how little or how much or how little of a racist you are by outlining it to people. I feel sorry for white people, because when they do try to prove that they are not racist, they dig a hole for themselves. Just don’t bother.”

I believe I not only avoided digging a hole for myself, but also further illuminated how I am not a racist. Labels like racist and misogynist allow people to brush off one’s commentary as invalid due to a preexisting bias. It’s not unreasonable for someone to fight against these labels when they’re applied incorrectly.

“why would white people be up in arms about the “white guy voice” jokes? That’s about as stinging as the word “cracker.” ”

Exactly. Why would black people be up in arms about stereotypical comic book characters and words like “nigger”? Getting upset by these things gives them power over you. You defeat negative stereotypes and racism by not living up to them and proving how much better than you they’re NOT. You don’t win by causing a ruckus at the Wal-Mart.

I disagree with this statement the most, “Most people are racist, meanign that they think better about their race than other races.” I would say that most people are prejudiced and stick to their own. Racism doesn’t mean that one thinks better about their race than other races. It means one thinks their own race IS better than other races. There’s a huge difference between “thinks better” and “thinks is better”.

Vichus Smith, I appreciate your arguments, and you made some good points.

BTW, my definition of racism doesn’t start at the KKK or militant black islamists. Most people are racist, meanign that they think better about their race than other races.

Unpopular, you’re using semantics. When people say that something is being racist, they are implying that the person who created that thing created something which is seen as racist. Why would you be so literal about it?

As for your picture, no it’s not a stereotype. It’s a picture of a black woman. Yes, there are certain facial features that black people have in common. However, if you know your history concerning racism towards blacks, you know that the drawing in question harkens back to extremely blatantly racist imagery. Are we going to pretend that it’s not reminiscent of that?

On another note you don’t have to prove how little or how much or how little of a racist you are by outlining it to people. I feel sorry for white people, because when they do try to prove that they are not racist, they dig a hole for themselves. Just don’t bother.

Wait, one more point in response to unpopular: why would white people be up in arms about the “white guy voice” jokes? That’s about as stinging as the word “cracker.” You are right, though, that people are way too insensitive about when feelings supposedly get hurt.

I think that the Don Imus debacle was bullshit that meant nothing to nobody, and I think that if this drawing in question causes trouble for the creator, that is an exaggeration.

People nowadays feel like everyone should be protected, but it’s not possible to cater to everyone’s sensitivities. At some point you should be able to express yourself without fear. Though I’m saying that, I still think you also have to have some goddamn sense when you create your art!

So not only do you have a problem with using words properly, you have problems with reading comprehension.

Point by point:

“People aren’t racist just because they do racist things”–Never said that. That’s what you misinterpreted. Sounds a lot like the crazy lady at Wal-Mart.

“besides black people say racist things about white people all the time”–Didn’t say that either. What I said was, “You don’t see white people in an uproar when a black comedian mocks the way they talk or their other STEREOTYPICAL behaviors. They laugh. Is Eddie Murphy “racist” for his mockery of Marc Blucas’ speech pattern in the trailer for Meet Dave? OF COURSE NOT!! The newly capitalized parts were done by me to show that I wasn’t even saying “black people say racist things”. Oh, maybe it’s because you have trouble understanding what racism is which is at the root of my post. Racist is in quotes to point out that it is being misused in the first place, which is then compounded by me saying that he in fact ISN’T being racist. However, he is making jokes which perpetuate racial stereotypes and he gets no flack for it. I can’t help that being true.

“and anyway, they are like that.”–Didn’t say that either. The resemblance of certain members of an ethnic group to their stereotypical representations isn’t coincidental. It simply illustrates the fact that stereotypes are grounded in reality. I can’t help that being true either. Saying “they are like that” isn’t racist; it’s prejudicial. Pointing out that SOME of them are like that is only speaking the truth, and truth is something the sensationalists can’t handle.

Your problem is you just have no idea what racism is. “you nailed the closet racist trifecta” is testament to that fact. I can’t argue with someone who has no idea what they’re talking about. I am nowhere near being a racist. However, I challenge anyone to find someone who isn’t at least a little bit prejudiced.

“Racism is also present in deed, in result, in outcome.” True, but all of that is a result of that particular mindset.

Angry Girl needs to learn what racism means as well. “To: Dweeze, Scott Bieser, david brothers, Guido,Kirk Boxleitner, a.k.a. K-Box – thank you for taking the high road and calling the obvious racist on their comments.” Dweeze didn’t take any high road. I didn’t view Scott Beiser’s comments as having anything to do with calling out any obvious racists on any comments. Maybe I’m wrong on that… Mr. Beiser? And K–Box just said Crumb’s a racist and made this silly comment “With stuff like this, there probably isn’t any racist intent, and that’s precisely what makes it racist, because the producers of these comics likely don’t even see anything wrong with it.” I understand what he’s getting at though…. Some sort of absent-minded racism. However, I believe he’s also using the term “racist” incorrectly. And clearly Franklin Harris was making a joke. I don’t even see why you would attack that guy. Well, being generally “angry” would be reason enough, I suppose.

And I think Allison Felix is kinda hot, is one hell of an athlete, and I hope she’s able to get the gold. I just happened to have been watching the Olympic trials recently and as soon as I saw that big picture of the comic character, I thought it looked a lot like Allison Felix. I didn’t go trolling the internet to find a single picture of one black person who looked anything like the picture just to prove my point. As for the name, Bill Cunningham doesn’t deserve to be labeled a racist for being correct either. He made a comment about stereotypes which pointed out how funny it is that some people who take offense at certain stereotypes being perpetuated are just as guilty of perpetuating other or similar stereotypes themselves. Can’t help that being true, either.

I say again that I am not a racist. I do, however, know what racism means which is more than can be said for some people.

“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.”

To: Dweeze, Scott Bieser, david brothers, Guido,Kirk Boxleitner, a.k.a. K-Box – thank you for taking the high road and calling the obvious racist on their comments.

To: Franklin Harris, Unpopular, Bill Cunningham – there are no words…however every once in a while I remember what a good old boy genre/industry comics are. So I will do less to defend the stereotype images of fanboys (40+ living at home preferably in the basement, blowup dolls, you name it) and spend more time defending athletes looks or African American names.

There’s another interesting video on the Dallas Morning News site. Watching the videos is a good way to gain some context on this story. Reading the comics, I’m sure, is a much better way.

There’s another interesting video on the Dallas Morning News site. Watching the videos is a good way to gain some context on this story. Reading the comics, I’m sure, is a much better way.

But congrats – whether you meant to or not, you nailed the closet racist trifecta in your post: “People aren’t racist just because they do racist things, besides black people say racist things about white people all the time, and anyway, they are like that.”