Sotomayor Cartoon In The Oklahoman Comes Under Fire

Some women's groups are outraged over an editorial cartoon that ran in The Oklahoman newspaper on Wednesday - it depicts Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor strung up like a piñata with a sombrero-clad President Obama handing out bats to Republican members of Congress.

Jean Warner, the chair of the Oklahoma Women's Coalition, wrote:

She's served on the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit for 10 years, heard over 3,000 cases and written over 380 opinions (but she's of Puerto Rican descent ~~ ergo the piñata image - right? wink, wink).

Not funny; actually stupid and damaging. A picture speaks louder than words and that cartoon sends a message to women of all ages: "Back off. Know your place. Or we'll take a stick to you and teach you a lesson."

Daily Kos poster OKC law dork wrote:

"I'm appalled that [The Oklahoman] would publish a cartoon showing a federal judge who happens to be a minority strung up from a tree... There is a vigorous racist block of voters in Oklahoma who harbor racist feelings toward 'Mexicans' (usually meaning anyone of Hispanic origin) that I believe this cartoon is catering to."

The editor of the Oklahoman, which is considered to have a conservative editorial viewpoint, did not return calls for comment.

Judge for yourself. Here's the cartoon:

Comments

[Brent Shutlz]

Ok so if this cartoon were truely about race why has nobody mentioned the stereotype of obama offering her up. Why don't people overanalyze that and say it's because blacks don't like Hispanics?

[JonBen]

I'm willing to accept that maybe, just MAYBE, the cartoon was not intended to be offensive towards Sotomayor.

But c'mon: it's offensive on so many levels:

LYNCHING (hung from a tree; black man inviting violence)

A HISPANIC WOMAN AS A PINATA (sexist AND racist)

SOMBRERO (talk about your stereotyping)

I mean, seriously: is the Oklahoman arguing that it shouldn't be apologizing for offending people?

[nikky]

DISGUSTING

[felidaeus]

I would really like someone to actually deconstruct this to show the "rac.ism" in it. We'll start with the definition of rac.ism, since most PCs don't know what it actually is:

"The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. Discrimination or prejudice based on race."

Mistaking one culture for another is not rac.ist, or every single person in the world is rac.ist for mixing up cultural metaphors at one time or another.

So, here are the images in the post:

1. The media
2. Sotomayor hanging with a rope on her waist
3. Candy dropping from Sotomayor
4. A smiling obama
5. Obama wearing a sombrero
6. A bunch of elephants with worried faces
7. Elephants holding sticks.
8. The caption

For the "purposefully" viol.ent against women and rac.ist to hold up, every single one of those elements has to fit the theme. I would encourage ONE person to at least make the attempt to make those coherently fit the rac.ist bill. I doubt it will happen, but hopefully it will make people look closer at the cartoon.

[lilymarie14]

just consider the source instead of trying to sanitize the cartoon. www.bokbluster.com

[DawnLA]

It's amazing that you don't realize you actually proved the racist aspects yourself. I'm just going to point out one issue to help enlighten you. If Sotomayor were a white woman or man would the pinata joke have made sense or even been considered?

[Brent Shutlz]

Yes! The cartoon still would make sense if she were white because the idea is "fiesta time" (read the caption, which also explains Obama wearing a sombreo) and the republicans are taking shots at her and her record and the media has been there to capture it all

[Hnorc]

The Klan never viewed the burning cross as a symbol of hatred and racism, but the burning cross was to show how the white race should remain cleansed. Perhaps you are too racist to understand the cartoon?

[felidaeus]

Oh look! Nobody can do it! Just lots of circular logic! it's rac.ist because it's rac.ist!

In response to DawnLA, as they were the only one who even made an attempt, I present to you a cartoon with bush as a pinata.

http://www.coxandforkum.com/archives/05.03.20.BushPinata-X.gif

[DawnLA]

You're link doesn't work.

[johnr49]

Apples and Oranges. Where's Sotomayor's stick?

[b8akaratn]

It seems you think that intention is what matters. I think this is a prime example where the cartoonist is obviously ignorant of his privilege when he drew this, clueless as to why some women or some minorities are offended by the imagery in use.

Racial insensitivity can occur in content whether the author intended or not -- as is what I think the case is here.

[felidaeus]

A half dozen comments and no attempts at explaining the racism aside from pulling "theres a rope in it!" out of context.

Titular has tit in it, I guess that makes it a sexist word. The rest of it doesn't matter, I'm just choosing to take offense from THAT part.

[lilymarie14]

Please people - consider the source of this guy's wingnut political cartoons:

www.bokbluster.com

His name is Chip Bok and he definitely knows his target audience and every single metaphor is intended. Its rac.ist, ug.ly, offensive and every other thing that pops into a reasonable person's mind. Stop twisting it into something innocent.

[Brent Shutlz]

Really people? Has everyone not been paying attention to the news recently? First, Sotomayer made a comment that "a Latino woman would be more fit to rule(judge) that a white male." somethimg she has been under much scrutiny for esp from the republican party (which is why the elephants are lining up to take their cheap shots) and that the media (which is also depicted in the cartoon) has been focusing on. Second, a "Latino" woman. So obviously SHE personally had identified herself with all Hispanic cultures not just PR. Third, it's a "political cartoon!" which makes it satire- pokes fun at truth and depicts absurdity in real situations.

Nothing about this cartoon says line up to put a woman in her place.

Don't get your panties in a twist and that goes double for males!

[JonBen]

Really, Brent? REALLY?

Suggest you put away the stereotypical "panties" metaphor as well.

When I see a minority hanging from a tree, I see one thing: LYNCHING.

[felidaeus]

You even see trees that don't exist!

You are most wise and insightful!

[BabblingBrooks]

Help! We're surrounded by floccinauc­inihilopil­ificators!

[Bronxdude]

As a Puerto Rican, Judge Sotomayor represents the sum of her unique experiences and, as such, would certainly know better than someone White what it means politically, sociologically, economically, and culturally to grow-up and live life as a Latina in America. Similarly, as a White Southerner, Senator Jeff Sessions represents the sum of his unique experiences and, as such, would certainly know better than a Puerto Rican what it means politically, sociologically, economically, and culturally to grow-up and live life as a Caucasian male in America. Differences in ethnicity, cultural heritage, and life experiences from person to person do not automatically render someone incapable of being able to objectively assess a particular situation, respond impartially, do the right thing, and offer a fair and unbiased opinion. Because she is Puerto Rican does not mean Judge Sotomayor will behave as an automaton and allow her life experiences (good or bad) to subjectively influence how she interprets the law and renders judgments involving people of Hispanic origin. Conversely, just because he is the product of a segregated and Klan controlled Alabama that forged racist attitudes and beliefs specifically designed to brutalized, subjugate, and denigrated Black Americans does not mean Senator Sessions will behave as an automaton and allow his Southern heritage, childhood beliefs, and unique life experiences to interfere with and taint his ability to make objective and race-neutral decisions involving Hispanics and Blacks. If this is not the case, both Judge Sotomayor and Senator Sessions should resign immediately.

[harriettubman]

Hmmm. I don't know. People tend to react based on how they were raised and where they came from. Remember Strom Thurmond & Jesse Helms?

[LADY2CNTX]

We'll see how Jeff Sessons votes and then you can decide who should resign if anyone?

[Yarrr]

How odd, the cartoonist is under the impression Sotomayor is Mexican.

[Aabby]

Just what I was thinking!

[missviv]

Apparently all Spanish speaking people must be Mexican..

[BabblingBrooks]

It is a pretty accurate cartoon depiction of the Obama political strategy, though, isn't it?

[MyrtleJune]

Um..... Kos' "law dork" poster might need glasses. There's NO TREE.

Additionally, Sotomayor's RECORD is the pinata. AND Obama IS running this game!

People need to calm down.

Gah.

[Inquisitr]

Seriously? just..seri­ously?

The cartoon is pro sotmayor, if you can't get that you need to go back to 5th grade and relearn the meaning of "irony".

Offense rules to much of our lives now a days, tell these "groups" to calm the hell down, they're not helping.

[lilymarie14]

Um NO its not. Do some research and learn about the 'toonist's views.

www.bokbluster.com

Chip Bok

[wendy82551]

Well, I don't know. It's an interesting read. When I FIRST heard about it, I would have agreed with you. But looking at it, I notice that the president is wearing a sombrero (as someone pointed out, but she's of Puerto Rican, not Mexican, descent--oh well, I guess "they all look alike," right?) and almost daring the elephants (Republicans) to take a whack at her. The elephants look concerned about the whole thing. So the suggestion is that Obama is basically race-baiting and the Republicans don't want to do it.

Whatever. It's an obnoxious cartoon on a couple of levels, but, IMHO, not something like the monkey cartoon--not something to get worked up over.

[LeRoiEstMort]

Assuredly, Bok's work is reflective of his sense of white privilege and superiority, and insensitivity to non-whites. Whether or not this manifestation of the aforementioned was intentional or unintentional is of no consequence to me.

I hope that you don't forget the outrage that the New Yorker's "Fist Bump" cover provoked. It's already common knowledge that stereotypical depictions of blacks or Muslims will be viewed at with disgust. There is no collective outrage at this equally disgusting depiction of a Latin person, thus leaving us at the sole people it is okay to ridicule/mock for our ethnic heritage.

To one not attuned to the exceedingly derogatory nature of this cartoon, it could be viewed merely as an Obama provocation to the GOP. To a darkie like myself, however, I'm disgusted at the inaccuracy of the cultural depiction. It really chaps my hide that a superficial, if supposedly unintentional in this case, attack on a specific Latin culture always makes Mexicans the butt of the joke.

[Aabby]

not true. In any case, it’s ignorant. Piñatas have birthing to do with Puerto Rico.

[Kungfublood]

Well after all aren't they all just a bunch of dizzy ,blind ,ponderous old elephants, flailing around in circles, all bashing blindly at whatever is in the air, in order to get at the loot?
(The GOP spin)

[Realityism]

I never cease to be confounded by the inability of most Americans to distinguish any race-related commentary from racism itself.

The cartoon is about the race politics of the situation and the dilemma that Sotomayor is presenting the GOP in that respect. That Puerto Ricans don't wear sombreros and hit piñatas is irrelevant, and, if anything, it gives the commentary on race politics a little more bite.

[MyrtleJune]

Pinata is a game played by everyone in the American culture. There is NO racial connotations, nor race-related comentary in this cartoon at all, except by those who have failed to see that the pinata is her RECORD, not her. Pinatas are swiped at all across this country at birthday and other parties by all ethnic groups. The artist selected this not because she's of hispanic heritage but because it is EXACTLY what Obama is doing and because her RECORD can take a beating and be very hard to crack open. No, the game depitcted is SPOT ON outside of ANY "race-related comentary".

[Hnorc]

Right, and we all we sombreros too. Mrytlejane, the closest you probably come to Hispanic culture is on Taco night.

[jefered]

Is this really worth an ounce of anyone's time?

[b8akaratn]

Yeah, it is. Gee, sorry if it's such an inconvenience to you to hear how others might be offended by the intonations of this "cartoon." Guess you're one of the privileged few who don't have to be bothered with issues of race or misogyny.

[db08]

well said...

[lilymarie14]

and yet here you are