Thread: Racist humor no laughing matter (Jesse Jackson)

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Racist humor no laughing matter

July 12, 2005

BY JESSE JACKSON





African Americans and Hispanics face what the Chinese would call interesting times. Together we can forge an alliance that would represent the majority in the 50 largest cities of America. Divided, we can be pitted against one another, leaving both of us wrestling in a ditch. The choice between alliance and division won't be easy. It will require leadership, vision, generosity and mutual understanding.



That's why the publication of racially offensive Memin Pinguin stamps in Mexico is so destructive and dangerous. And it is why the brusque dismissal by President Vicente Fox of protests from African Americans, from the White House, and from Mexico's own black population is so disturbing.

Memin Pinguin is a racially stereotyped black Mexican cartoon character, with exaggerated features, regularly mocked by whites and generally depicting blacks as lazy and ignorant. This is a cartoon, but the comedy masks tragedy. It's comedy with a demeaning punch line, reflecting the racism that's still a reality in Mexico and the United States.

Black Mexico, a group organized to give voice to black Mexicans, wrote Fox to object to the stamp that ''rewards, celebrates, typifies and makes official the distorted, mocking, stereotypical and limited view of the black community.''

Fox responded that he had grown up reading the Memin Pinguin comic books and that the character is ''loved in Mexico'' and ''has absolutely nothing discriminatory about it.'' Fox helped push through an anti-discrimination law in 2003; he is not blind to the blight of racism in Mexico. But here, as in his reluctance to apologize for his earlier statement that ''not even blacks'' would take the jobs being done by Mexican immigrants, Fox is sowing discord, not reaching out for unity.

The spokesman for the Mexican Postal Service, Carlos Cabellero, justified the stamp as celebrating ''a traditional character that reflects part of Mexico's culture.'' But that is exactly the problem: Memin Penguin reflects the dark side, not the sunny side, of Mexico's culture.

In the United States, racial tension between Hispanics and African Americans can be easily sparked. We are disproportionately poor. We struggle for low-paying jobs and scarce low-income housing. Our children must survive mean streets often divided by gangs organized along lines of race. Our leaders compete for political office and political power. Division is easy to sow; unity is hard to build.

Together, we can make a powerful coalition. We can elect mayors in cities across the country, as demonstrated by Antonio Villaraigosa in Los Angeles and Harold Washington in Chicago. Together we can build a coalition for economic justice, fighting to raise the minimum wage, to provide workers the right to organize, to demand investment in our cities and schools. Together we can unite on a program to keep immigrants from being exploited and minorities from being locked out. Together we can fend off attacks on U.S. civil rights laws and affirmative action. Together, we can help recognize our neighbors to the South and build good neighbor policies.

But to stay together, we must talk together. We must see the world through the others' eyes. That's why I've argued that it is important for Americans to start learning Spanish. Similarly, it is vital that Mexicans, as our neighbors and necessary allies, become sensitive to the racially hurtful elements of their culture.

Today, the Mexico of Vicente Fox grows ever more nationalist, even as its economy becomes more intertwined with that of the United States. Objections to the racial stereotypes of the Memin Pinguin stamps can evoke a brusque nationalist rejection. But there is a huge price to pay, both in Mexico and here, if Mexico's independence is expressed through racial division.

My organization, Rainbow/ PUSH, is reaching out to Hispanic groups in the United States to join in a working alliance. We have asked Fox to withdraw the stamp, which now apparently is already sold out. We ask him to issue stamps that celebrate the contributions of real black Mexicans rather than honor cartoons based on derogatory racial stereotypes of them. In this country, we will work to find common ground with Latinos. Let us join together in mutual respect, not be torn apart by mutual prejudices.

Put Jesse Jackson on your Globalist List and buy him a Sombrero! He's been bought and sold by his own lack of character; lack of nationality; lack of patriotism; lack of loyalty; lack of honor; lack of duty; lack of brains. We went down to Mexico on the fraud of seeking an apology but came back with a "suitcase" filled of promises and who knows what else to turn on his country, his fellow Americans, and his followers.

CUT THE CORD with this man...because a man he's not...he's a Rosemary's Baby if I ever saw one.

I wonder if it ever occured to Rev. Jackson that Pres. Fox's blatant racisim is infuriating not only to blacks, but to ALL Americans, regardless of ethnic background? Why is Mr. Jackson so compelled to align Black Americans with illegal invaders that are being paid less to do jobs that NO American would do? It boggles my mind! I suppose when you never have to worry about where your next meal is coming from (in the Rev's case we are talking....Le Cirque, Nobu, Tavern on the Green, ect.) it is easy to cut the throats of those you supposedly represent. After all, stirring the racial pot within our borders has been VERY profitable for the Rev. Jackson and his ilk.

I have a message for the Rev. Jackson (et al) that he is loath to accept: ALL Americans are in this together, especially Black and White Americans! We are UNTIED..with nothing to lose and EVERTYTHING to gain by working together to eliminate this threat to OUR United States Of America.

Time to get a real job Rev. Jackson.

African Americans and Hispanics face what the Chinese would call interesting times. Together we can forge an alliance that would represent the majority in the 50 largest cities of America.

The good Rev's self interest is SO transparent here. Americans citizens, regardless of ethnic heritage, represent the overwhelming majority of ALL American cities. So why would this race traitor ask his congregation to throw their lot in with a largely non-english speaking illegal minority intent on "stealing" jobs, education, and housing from ANY American?

Divided, we can be pitted against one another, leaving both of us wrestling in a ditch.

Wrong again Reverand. Americans will ever end up "wrestling in a ditch" with illegal aliens who clearly intend to capitalize on OUR hard earned RIGHT to pursue OUR American dreams. I got my American brothers and sisters backs..and they've got mine.

Well I didn't find those idiotic stamps infuriating. Yeah--tastless, but good GOD. Look at Jerry Lewis--he was a complete idiot and yet people look at him as a harmless icon of the past. Same with Lucille Ball--the fool she played in the 50's is a beloved icon of Americana. I sincerely doubt any of today's humorless feminist drones would find her exactly uplifting. Then you have Jim Carrey--who is such a complete MONGOLOID that he is, more often than not, Heeelarious.

I don't think we should be exporting PC to Mexico. Being a minority myself, I find extreme chariactatures (sp) of my group funny, as long as there's a certain deft and style to them. I know who I am so I am not intimidated.

Meanwhile, as the histrionics over these stupid stamps continue, we are getting 10,000 per day crossing our border...

BobC--I couldn't agree more. The only reason that Fox's statement about the "jobs that EVEN blacks won't do" and the "stamps" have a bearing on illegal immigration is the irony that MEXICO is totally racist against its own people, Mexican Indians and Mexican Blacks...to the extent that they are eliminating them from their population to create a White Hispanic Mexican Populaton in Mexico.

All the while, their illegal alien advocacy groups intimidate our political leaders, our employers, and our population into silence throwing a totally false race card at opposition to illegal immigration.

In addition, Black Americans are the most vulnerable to the economic impact of illegal immigration because they already have the highest unemployment as a group in the United States. So every job filled by an illegal is a job opportunity taken away from them in violation of the very US Labor and US Civil Rights Laws designed to ensure equality and equal employment opportunity.

Finally, it is my opinion, and just mine alone, and not necessarily the view of ALIPAC or other ALIPAC members...that the entire illegal immigration movement is racially motivated against Black America matching racist employers with racist foreign workers. That to me is the compelling motivation behind the role of major corporations and the role of the United States Government in promoting illegal immigration; abandoning the rule of law; and impairing our nation...economically, socially, and politically.

Jackson and Sharpton just walked right into a Lion's Den they were too stupid and camera hungry to see. Or maybe they saw it and said, "if the money's good enough", count me in.

Just remember....right now in the United States....nothing is as it "seems" to be. Everything is happening for a reason. Jackson and Sharpton are easy pawns in the game. Their egos and ambitions are their weakness being used by the enemy to open yet another "new gate".

It won't work, because again, none of the MORONS understand Americans. But, it's interesting to watch and see what they are up to. It's our job as I see it to expose it all.....comment.....connect the dots...and then SHUT IT DOWN.