The Associated Press reports that Wal-Mart has pulled a Mexican comic called Memín para presidente, which means Memin for President, after complaints from Houston customers.
The comic, one of several Spanish-language books carried by the chain in stores that have a large Hispanic customer base, features a popular character named Memín Pinguín. Wal-Mart customer Shawnedria McGinty objected to the depiction of the boy, who has “thick lips and wide-open eyes.”
“They are calling him names,” McGinty said, per the Dallas Morning News. “They call him an animal in one section. His mom is spanking his butt and it looks like they are drowning him.”
“This is poking fun at the physical features of an entire people. Making them look buffoonish (and) portraying the young (black) kid as stupid,” said Quanell X, a Houston activist. “Whenever they are beating him, they are referring to him as Negro. Even here when he is being punched, slapped (he is called) Negro.”
“We understand that Memín is a popular figure in Mexico,” Wal-Mart wrote in a statement. “However, given the sensitivity to the negative image Memín can portray to some, we felt that it was best to no longer carry the item in our stores. We apologize to those customers who may have been offended by the book’s images.”
The character has been around since the 1940s. This isn’t the first time he’s found controversy north of the Rio Grande — President Bush, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson complained about a series of Mexican stamps featuring the character back in 2005.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I realize some are likely to cry “censorship” here, but this isn’t suppressing the publisher’s right to make this comic. There are some things that are just in extremely poor taste, and this comic would appear to be one of them. Considering all the racism exhibited by those who want to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, the stereotypes presented in Memin are kind of ironic. Not to mention sad.
Let’s put it this way, if you can get Bush to agree on something with Sharpton and Jackson it must be bad. It looks like some of those really old cartoons that used to play into similar stereotypes. No thanks. I don’t normally give props to freakin’ Wal-Mart, but in this case I think it was a good thing.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:48 am
“Quanell X”?!? Way to have no imagination.
July 10th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
“Considering all the racism exhibited by those who want to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, the stereotypes presented in Memin are kind of ironic. Not to mention sad.”
You’re not automatically a racist if you believe that the country should be enforcing its existing laws and procedures.
People need to follow the rules.
Anyways, the comic should be pulled. Just because it’s from Mexico does not get rid of the fact that it is racist, as if only if it was done by an American would it be considered racist. There’s a reason Sambos and Mammies aren’t used anymore (except in obvious parody).
And Quanell X is a fool and nothing but a local race baiter. I live in Houston, and the guy does nothing but pop his head up when something involving a black person is involved and tries to scream racism and persecution (such as Joe Horn). He even has his little bowtie and everything, trying to act like someone should give a toss about his opinion. A Jesse Jackson/ Louis Farrakhan in training he is.
July 12th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I find it funny that such a character would be so popular among a group of people who are looking for acceptance and understanding and citizenship! Mexicans rightly cry foul when they are profiled, or discriminated against in this country but support this type of obvious prejudice even once they come into the states, I find this reprehensible. During Obama’s campaign some said they would not support him because Blacks do not support them. Well, maybe there is a reason and it has reared its ugly head in this issue.
You can not be both victim and victimizer… this goes for us all… don’t cry foul when you are mistreated and then turn around and mistreat others and expect to be taken seriously. It’s the 21st century and it is time we humans start acting like and stop repeating the mistakes of the past finally.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Wal Mart sold my Cartoon Comics because they have multiple stores in Mexico. But what is wrong with freedom of the press and expression in America? As soon as the Lieing Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, et. al. start bickering the whole establishment caves in. Please, racisim should not be tolorated, but Memin Pinquin is not racist and Former President Fox’s comments are not racist either. Its true that no one, including Blacks, do not do the work that Mexicans do. Otherwise, there would not be an immigration problem. My new cartoon will speak volumnes about the racist immigration policies of America and lets see where Jesse, Al and the like chime in, if ever. They are only shaking down American Corporations and could care less about African Americans….they use their own people for their own gain and that is racism on African Americans by African Americans. Leave Memin Pinguin alone…..he harms no one….if you don’t Love it done read it.