The relationship between Mexico and the United States has never been, let’s say, comfortable. As far back as the 19th Century when the U.S. acquired the states of Texas, New Mexico and part of what is now California as well as that small dispute (read 13 day siege) over at a San Antonio mission called Alamo — remember that? — there has been a pubic tension that has left both sides unhappy with each other’s close geographical company. Even the NAFTA, an agreement that strived to open commerce between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada only managed to open more wounds and has yet to see positive light. Over recent decades drug cartels and illegal immigrants have been the thorniest issues between the two countries. And today we can add racism to the list of matters to deal with.
This past Wednesday the Servicio Postal Méxicano (SEPOMEX) issued a new set of stamps with a comic book character called Mem�n Pingu�n. Originally drawn in 1946 by illustrator Sixto Valencia, Mem�n is now, unfortunately, a crude stereotype of black people with his thick lips, big ears, ape-shaped head and stumbling ways. There is nothing that can be argued against this: What you see is what you get. The stamp ignited concern from African-American activists and Reverends Jesse Jackson — what doesn’t ignite his concerns? — and Al Sharpton as well as the White House. Spokesman Scott McLellan publicly condemned the stamps and argued for their immediate removal from the public.
As a response Mexican President, Vicente Fox, said of the complaints “They don’t have information, frankly,” calling Mem�n a character that all of Mexico loves. Later, Fox’s spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, added, “By no means is Mexico considering the possibility of withdrawing the stamp,” and in good defying Mexican fashion added, “[The government] emphatically rejects these complaints, which are the products of lack of knowledge or people who want publicity.” While the majority of Mexicans can’t see the big deal — more on this below — one newspaper (La Jornada) did criticize Fox’s actions by claiming that Mem�n is paying the consequences for Fox, who according to sociologist Armando Bartra, “is indeed racist,” and added, “which is evident in those improvised declarations that come so natural to him.” Bartra is referring to a comment Fox made last month about Mexican immigrants doing jobs that “not even blacks want.” Suddenly, drugs smuggled in body cavities seems politically correct in comparison.
While accusations of insensibility float around and flaming comments abound in blogs (one calls Mem�n a “long running, racist-as-a-motherfuck Mexican comic book”) there is context to consider. Not one that serves as an excuse but one that perhaps explains why this character is still depicted in such fashion in the year 2005. Mexico does not suffer from the same racism concerns as the U.S., race is not an issue, economic and social class is. The tremendous gap between the rich (the minority) and the poor (the majority) has long shaped Mexico’s culture and the racism in this regard has been as devastating as any from the Jim Crow era. And unlike racism towards African-Americans in the U.S., class racism in Mexico is still rampant. Add to this that the African-Mexican population in Mexico (specially in Mexico City) is close to non-existent and it may shed light on Mexican’s brushing off the U.S.’s reaction to a comic book character that has been in circulation for almost 60 years.
Mem�n Pngu�n, developed by Grupo Editorial Vid and written by Yolanda Vargas Dulché who decided to include the little black boy in the comic after a trip to Cuba and coining the name Mem�n after the nickname of her husband who happened to be director of the editorial group, has reached number 372 in its series. During that time, from the early 50s to today, along with his friends Ernestillo, Carlos and Ricardo, Mem�n, despite being a lighthearted comic book, has tackled themes like poverty, unemployment, death and has at most times been a reflection of the political temperament of Mexico. Most of the stories show Mem�n, and his friends, faced with moral dilemmas ascribed with a solution in hopes of being a source of education for lower class citizens who may not afford schooling. This goes for both children and adults. In 1985 the Education Ministry of the Philippines declared Mem�n Pngu�n required reading, speaking to the wide acclaim of this character.
Interestingly, and the main reason for the current state of affairs, Mem�n has not been politically corrected. Ever. His caricaturizing is eerily reflective of the depiction of blacks during the earliest parts of the 20th century when a few simple attributes were necessary to illustrate a black person: big, red lips, large, white eyes and, of course, the blackest black skin. From these basic traits black people could be portrayed in different lights. Coon and — please excuse the term, only included for necessity — Nigger caricature often reflected blacks as careless, brutes, lazy and ignorant. Sambo caricature — what Mem�n most closely resembles — meant to show blacks as more docile, easily dumbfounded and carefree. Equally harmful were the Tom and Mammy caricatures that rendered blacks as happy servants and warm, caring people — considered at the time, scarily, a positive view of blacks. Mem�n’s mother, Do�a Eufrosina, illustrated in typical Mammy fashion — with bulging cheeks, big loopy earrings and bandana — has not had the privilege of undergoing a makeover like her most famous American counterpart, Aunt Jemima. A common target by Mexico in lieu of this debate.
In Design Literacy (Second Edition), Steve Heller writes “…Vestiges of benign racist trade characters remain, including Aunt Jemima, the former plantation mammy who over the years has been transformed into a housewife…” (p.348). Also relevant to this point and to the stereotype flinging that the U.S. and Mexico are engaging in are the defunct Frito Bandito — who was retired by Frito-Lay after outbursts from the Hispanic and Latin communities — the Taco Bell Chihuahua, Speedy Gonzalez and I would possibly add all burritos and Paul Rodriguez to the list. Conversely, in Mexico there are no other traces of stereotypes towards blacks, besides, now anyways, Mem�n.
Unfortunately, blacks have been more prone to odd stereotyping for marketing purposes. The main object for discussion in the essay cited above by Heller, is Darkie Toothpaste, a product sold as late as 1990 in Hong Kong and Taiwan. After complaints, the product’s name was changed to Darlie and showed a well-groomed black man. In Finland, a licorice product shows, Cheshire-style, eyes and lips of a black person against a black background. In Italy another licorice brand, Tabu, showed a caricature of a black man. In Bangkok, a series of household products are simply called “Black Man”. And what’s to be said — perhaps in a bit of a stretch — for the annoyingly famous “Waaaazup” Budweiser men? Weren’t they, to an extent, an extreme simplification and caricature of language and black male bonding behavior?
Segueing back to black people in comics and hopefully coming full circle to Mem�n, what of Fat Albert and his posse of misfits, or the Harlem Globetrotters and their eccentric powers or, one of the most animated characters, Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav? What role do they play in the portrayal of black people?
These issues make for fragile discussions and situations as is clear with the current problem between these two neighboring countries. The U.S. argues for sensibility to world issues and removal of stamps from circulation; while Mexico asks for understanding of their culture and for their northern neighbor to mind their own business.
Neither willing to give in just yet.
That’s the true problem.
Most blogs discussing this have gone to become offensive bitch-fests, I ask that you refrain from any offensive comments.
There are too many links that point to the Mem�n story to include here, please Google at your own pace.
People in countries who have been bombed by US warplanes might not take too kindly to receiving mail bearing the upcoming US "aviation" stamps.
On Jul.03.2005 at 08:20 PM