Thread: TX: Mexican comic book draws charges of racism

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5876334.html

Customers ask Wal-Mart stores to remove book

By LESLIE CASIMIR
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Beloved by Mexicans for his dim wits, street smarts and playful disposition, long-running comic book character MemÃ*n PinguÃ*n — a little black boy whose face resembles a monkey — is at it again.

His zany adventures chronicled in a hugely popular book series for decades are up for sale at your neighborhood Wal-Mart store in the Libros en Español section, right next to the store's cadre of African-American books.

The latest issue: MemÃ*n para presidente.

By Shawnedria McGinty's American standards, the image was shocking. The African-American woman who was shopping at the store on South Post Oak over the weekend immediately asked a store manager to remove the books from the shelves. A manager told her he would comply.

"I said, wait a minute: Is this a monkey or a little black boy?" said McGinty, 34, of Meyerland. "I was so upset. This is 2008."

But as of Monday afternoon, the books were still on the shelves at many Houston stores, prompting community activist Quanell X to demand that Wal-Mart apologize for selling the racially charged books.

"Even Hispanics of conscious minds sense this is racist and that to sell this is totally unacceptable," said Quanell X, who spoke in front of the Wal-Mart on South Post Oak and demanded officials issue an apology. "It is a disgrace — it's an insult to all African-Americans."

Quanell X, who was contacted by McGinty, requested a meeting with regional Wal-Mart officials.

A Wal-Mart spokesman said the books were removed late Monday at the Meyerland location, but would not say if the comic books would be pulled at other Houston locations. A Houston Chronicle reporter bought three MemÃ*n comic books for $7.44 each at another Wal-Mart on Dunvale.

"We will be evaluating the best course of action," said Phillip Keene, a company spokesman.

MemÃ*n is no stranger to controversy. In 2005, the Mexican postal service released a series of new stamps commemorating the comic book character, who debuted in the 1940s. The stamps sold out quickly, but the debate endured and swirled between the U.S. White House and the Mexican White House.

To some in America, MemÃ*n's stereotypical image of exaggerated lips and ape-like characteristics represents a racist period in the nation's history when black-face characters were popular.

The stamps were deemed offensive by President Bush and a number of American leaders, including civil rights icon Jesse Jackson. Former Mexican President Vicente Fox said he didn't understand what all the fuss was about and insisted that MemÃ*n's image was not racist, but a beloved character embraced by all Mexicans.

"When you read the stories, he's always the hero — he saves the day," said Raul Ramos, professor of Mexican-American history at the University of Houston, who added that the racial dynamics in Mexico — where stereotypical "Sambo" characters do not exist — are far more complex than in the U.S. "He's kind of the Charlie Chaplin figure, the rascal who is able to overcome the difficult situations. So he's a very populist character in that way."

Omar G., 45, who was shopping at the Meyerland Wal-Mart with his four American-born children, said he did not want his children to read it.

"I grew up reading the comic book as a kid in Mexico, but for here, it is offensive for some people," said Omar, who did not want his last name published. "To see it here in Wal-Mart, I am surprised."

leslie.casimir@chron.com

If they want to buy mejican comics......go back to mejico!!!

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox said he didn't understand what all the fuss was about and insisted that MemÃ*n's image was not racist, but a beloved character embraced by all Mexicans

That is what Vincente Fox said.

This is what another mexican said regarding the same character:

Omar G., 45, who was shopping at the Meyerland Wal-Mart with his four American-born children, said he did not want his children to read it.

"I grew up reading the comic book as a kid in Mexico, but for here, it is offensive for some people," said Omar, who did not want his last name published. "To see it here in Wal-Mart, I am surprised."

Hmmm...sounds like Vincente Fox could use some cultural sensitivity training!

Just one of many reasons why many Americans will not shop at Wal-Mart.

Maybe Quanell X should call for a black boycott of Wal-Mart. Now that would be interesting to see.

La Raza ( The Race) represents their race (whatever that is) OVER EVERY OTHER RACE. They assist and encourage aliens in breaking our laws and they are demanding that ANY CITIZEN opposition to them be declared RACIST and citizens be prosecuted for HATE crimes.
Mexico's little black Sambo (memin Penguin) is protected and sold in Wal-Mart while we in the U.S.A can't even buy a copy of the original Sambo series, Wow! There is NO EQUAL PROTECTION for Americans, not even cartoon characters!
Illegal aliens just ignore U.S. law and culture and our (?) government simply assists or ignores it, it is time we CITIZENS DEMAND EQUAL PROTECTION just like criminal aliens and their racist cartoons!

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox said he didn't understand what all the fuss was about and insisted that MemÃ*n's image was not racist, but a beloved character embraced by all Mexicans.

Fox and Mexico have lost ALL credibility since they constantly play the race card when it benefits them. Since Memin Pinguin is not mexican, they don't consider it racist.

I wonder whatever happened to Slowpoke Gonzalez?

Mexico is probably the most racist and hypocritical country in the free world!

Originally Posted by MW

Mexico is probably the most racist and hypocritical country in the free world!

Ditto MW!

The real issue is cultural respect

think the racial sensitivity angle is blurring the real issue here, which is a coveyed lack of respect for a host country's cultural rules. If the book sells well in Mexico, more power to them. But this isn't Mexico. We have racial sensitivities that guests would be wise to follow.

My point is, when a migrant moves to a new country (even if it's just to work), it's their duty to conform to that country's cultural standards, not their own. For example, most openly gay people probably wouldn't move to a Muslim country, even if offered a great job. Why, because Muslims really don't care for any exhibition of the gay lifestyle (or the very idea of accepting it).

The current immigration crisis is partially caused by such a lack of cultural respect for the host country. If the illegal immigrants followed our cultural rules and language, I think most people wouldn't have noticed millions of them here. But, like many Muslim immigrants in Europe, the illegals here have decided that we should conform to them. The result is resentment and apprehension by the native population.

The book being offered here is just a microcosm of the cultural respect premise. Former president Fox and others show willful ignorance of our cultural rules, thereby awakening resentment and hostility from the host country, the good 'ol U.S.A.[/i]

Illegal aliens are being protected from prosecution and assimilation by local, state and federal employees who are NOT applying the law EQUALLY, they prosecute U.S. Citizens for the same crimes they PROTECT illegal aliens from while they DEMAND CITIZENS follow the law and RELAX the rules to ACCEPT protected criminals from other countries.
The law either applies or it doesn't, and it is at the tipping point now!
Every elected official who swore to obey the Constitution and the law and ALL tax dollar paid employees (civil Servants?) who refuse to enforce and therefore break the law should be PROSECUTED EQUALLY!
Here's a different thought for you,
Rules and programs that assist aliens NOT to assimilate such as printing government forms in a foreign language and other than English television are RACIST and present a barrier to alien assimilation therefore should be stopped!

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox said he didn't understand what all the fuss was about and insisted that MemÃ*n's image was not racist, but a beloved character embraced by all Mexicans.

It figures that a racist image would be "embraced by all Mexicans".

This Memins figure should NEVER had been put on the shelves of Wal-Mart in the first place! WHOEVER ORDERD THESE OUGHT TO BE FIRED!