A series of five stamps was released Wednesday for general use by the Mexican government. The stamps depict an exaggerated black cartoon character known as Memin Pinguin, a child character from a comic book started in the 1940s and still published in Mexico.
Oh hell no! Mexico is officially trippin’ now. Fresh off of Vicente Fox’s comments about certain jobs that ‘even Blacks’ don’t want Mexico releases these foul a$$ postage stamps.
WASHINGTON – The White House on Thursday objected to a postage stamp issued by the Mexican government, saying that “racial stereotypes are offensive no matter what their origin” and have no place in today’s world.
The stamp depicts an exaggerated black cartoon character known as Memin Pinguin, drawn with exaggerated features, thick lips and wide-open eyes. His appearance, speech and mannerisms are the subject of kidding by white characters in the comic book, which started in the 1940s and is still published in Mexico.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said it was “an internal issue for Mexico and the postal authorities that issued the stamp. With that said, I would like to make a couple of points. Racial stereotypes are offensive no matter what their origin. The Mexican government needs to take this into account. Images like these have no place in today’s world.”
Mexico said that like Speedy Gonzalez — a cartoon mouse with a Mexican accent that debuted in the United States in 1953 — the Memin Pinguin character shouldn’t be interpreted as a racial slur.
Activists have also called on the Mexican government to withdraw the stamp.
“One would hope the Mexican government would be a little more careful and avoid continually opening wounds,” said Sergio Penalosa, an activist in Mexico’s small black community on the southern Pacific coast.
“But we’ve learned to expect anything from this government, just anything,” Penalosa said. [read the entire article…]
I’m surprised that they even have any kind of representation of Blacks in Mexico since they’ve tried to hide the history of Blacks in their country for so long. Perhaps it’s time for a history (and sensitivity lesson)…
FIRST MEMIN PINGUIN IS NOT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN HE WAS INSPIRED IN A CUBAN KID.
SECOND MEMIN IS A CULTURAL ICON IN MEXICO , NEVER INTENDED TO OFFEND NO ONE.
AND FINAL IN REGARDS OF THE “STUPID” COMMENT OF OUR PRESIDENT VICENTE FOX, I ONLY CAN SAY THAT HE IS NOT A BAD PERSON AND NOT VERY BRITTE ETHER.
SORRY FOR THE GRAMMAR.
1. Whether or not Memin is American is irrelevant. He’s obviously of (Black) African descent. Nationality isn’t the issue.
2. Whether or not it was meant to offend anyone, it is offensive.