The Serena cartoon — too much, too far?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you lived under a rock but still knew 2 things about Osaka, you’d know her parents are Japanese/Black (may have known Haitian). To come here and defend the cartoon on the basis that “you thought she was Hawaiian” is idiotic. Goodbye.

I had no idea who Osaka was until this incident. I really don't watch much in the way of tennis these days.

I clicked on a thread to find out why Serena was being called a baby and bully and that is when I first heard of what happened. I've since watched a video of her meltdown so I'm aware of what happened. You don't need to be an expert on tennis to see that Serena had a bad day. Osaka's heritage has nothing to do with it although people are sure trying to make it an issue...

If you actually watched tennis you would know that what happened with serena has happened with dozens and dozens of men but you don't know about that because when men in tennis do what Serena did... it's not in the news because it is considered strong and passionate ... never described as a meltdown.

Well, actually, if you really followed tennis you would know that men who behave similarly do get penalized as well. Serena gets more attention here because she is a top-ranked woman who happens to be both American and black, and this forum is full of people who love to cry racism and sexism whenever they can.

Andy Roddick disagrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love all the comments claiming Osaka is being depicted as white and blonde when A) her hair is dyed blonde IRL and B) the cartoonist used THE EXACT SAME SHADE OF BROWN for her as he did in his depiction of Williams.

OMG, I didn't even realize that. I had to go back and look at the cartoon again and you're right - the two tennis players have the same color skin in the drawing. It's weird that I (and a lot of others) are "seeing" white skin on the blonde tennis player and dark skin on the Serena player yet they are the same shade. Those calling this racist: what are your thoughts on that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's put the potential racist implications aside for a moment - for whatever reason that's all y'all wanna talk about - and examine something else...SEXISM.

Billie Jean King, a tennis legend and equal rights advocate tweeted...
"When a woman is emotional, she's "hysterical" and she's penalized for it. When a man does the same, he's "outspoken" & and there are no repercussions. Thank you, Serena Williams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same"

Anybody agree?

My posts in thread have been strictly about the cartoon and whether or not it is racist. Her behavior on the court and whether she was treated in a sexist manner are entirely irrelevant to that except insofar as they led to the cartoon being drawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's put the potential racist implications aside for a moment - for whatever reason that's all y'all wanna talk about - and examine something else...SEXISM.

Billie Jean King, a tennis legend and equal rights advocate tweeted...
"When a woman is emotional, she's "hysterical" and she's penalized for it. When a man does the same, he's "outspoken" & and there are no repercussions. Thank you, Serena Williams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same"

Anybody agree?

I will admit I have said worse and not gotten penalized. And I’ve also been given a “soft warning” by the ump where they tell you knock it off or I will have to give you a violation. He should have at least given her that courtesy. Sad to mar a well played final that way.
— James Blake (@JRBlake) September 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/JRBlake/status/1038619979938189313?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

I’ve regrettably said worse and I’ve never gotten a game penalty
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) September 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/andyroddick/status/1038642213427789826?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

[Anonymous]

Sexist not racist.

[Anonymous]

Seems as if umpires are considering boycotting any matches Serena plays in the future.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/09/12/tennis-umpires-reportedly-considering-boycott-of-serena-williams-matches/?utm_term=.1b4f51f22cd7

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loved the pacifier. Best part of the cartoon.

I don’t think the other woman in the cartoon is necessarily Osaka. I think it depicts a generic opponent because this is not the first (and possibly not the last) time Serena has had a melt down on the court.

I don’t think it is racist at all. It is a caricature and captured her features.

Stop. It is very racist, I don't see how anyone can miss that. Plenty of good posts above explaining the history of Jim Crow era depictions of people who are black.

And why, if you are drawing a cartoon immediately after a particular event, would you draw a generic opponent? That makes no sense in this context.

And the pacifier allows the artist to add misogyny to the racism by infantilzing his subject. Can't have adult women standing up for themselves and demanding fair treatment, now, can we?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loved the pacifier. Best part of the cartoon.

I don’t think the other woman in the cartoon is necessarily Osaka. I think it depicts a generic opponent because this is not the first (and possibly not the last) time Serena has had a melt down on the court.

I don’t think it is racist at all. It is a caricature and captured her features.

Stop. It is very racist, I don't see how anyone can miss that. Plenty of good posts above explaining the history of Jim Crow era depictions of people who are black.

And why, if you are drawing a cartoon immediately after a particular event, would you draw a generic opponent? That makes no sense in this context.

And the pacifier allows the artist to add misogyny to the racism by infantilzing his subject. Can't have adult women standing up for themselves and demanding fair treatment, now, can we?

Oh, please. Since when does “standing up for” herself include throwing and destroying a racquet and calling an umpire names?
This is a damn caricature - NOT a “Jim Crow era” cartoon.
And, why might this opponent be generic? Because Serena is known for her tantrums. It has happened before. This is a pattern.
And the pacifier is totally appropriate given she was acting like a toddler being told she couldn’t have something at the grocery store.

Standing up for herself, my A$$!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loved the pacifier. Best part of the cartoon.

I don’t think the other woman in the cartoon is necessarily Osaka. I think it depicts a generic opponent because this is not the first (and possibly not the last) time Serena has had a melt down on the court.

I don’t think it is racist at all. It is a caricature and captured her features.

Stop. It is very racist, I don't see how anyone can miss that. Plenty of good posts above explaining the history of Jim Crow era depictions of people who are black.

And why, if you are drawing a cartoon immediately after a particular event, would you draw a generic opponent? That makes no sense in this context.

And the pacifier allows the artist to add misogyny to the racism by infantilzing his subject. Can't have adult women standing up for themselves and demanding fair treatment, now, can we?

Oh, please. Since when does “standing up for” herself include throwing and destroying a racquet and calling an umpire names?
This is a damn caricature - NOT a “Jim Crow era” cartoon.
And, why might this opponent be generic? Because Serena is known for her tantrums. It has happened before. This is a pattern.
And the pacifier is totally appropriate given she was acting like a toddler being told she couldn’t have something at the grocery store.

Standing up for herself, my A$$!

Seeing how your ass is anonymous I seriously doubt anyone will lose any sleep over your adamant refusal to see the incident as a woman standing up for herself - but I like the all caps and exclamation...keep up the cybertantrums, maybe one day you can have a caricature done of you furiously yelling at a screen with an appropriately placed pacifier beside your keyboard.
Toodles

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love all the comments claiming Osaka is being depicted as white and blonde when A) her hair is dyed blonde IRL and B) the cartoonist used THE EXACT SAME SHADE OF BROWN for her as he did in his depiction of Williams.

OMG, I didn't even realize that. I had to go back and look at the cartoon again and you're right - the two tennis players have the same color skin in the drawing. It's weird that I (and a lot of others) are "seeing" white skin on the blonde tennis player and dark skin on the Serena player yet they are the same shade. Those calling this racist: what are your thoughts on that?

I posted upthread that I saw tan skin and was mocked. I don't see white skin and I'm not trying to be blind to this.

[Anonymous]

This is the Trump era. Nothing is racist. Even the KKK is not racist.

That leads me to conclude that at LEAST 50% of you think the cartoon is fine and so far my prediction is quite accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loved the pacifier. Best part of the cartoon.

I don’t think the other woman in the cartoon is necessarily Osaka. I think it depicts a generic opponent because this is not the first (and possibly not the last) time Serena has had a melt down on the court.

I don’t think it is racist at all. It is a caricature and captured her features.

Stop. It is very racist, I don't see how anyone can miss that. Plenty of good posts above explaining the history of Jim Crow era depictions of people who are black.

And why, if you are drawing a cartoon immediately after a particular event, would you draw a generic opponent? That makes no sense in this context.

And the pacifier allows the artist to add misogyny to the racism by infantilzing his subject. Can't have adult women standing up for themselves and demanding fair treatment, now, can we?

Who died and made you the world’s censor?

Thank God for cartoonists. Particularly foreign ones. #jesuischarlie #jenaimeplusSerena

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you lived under a rock but still knew 2 things about Osaka, you’d know her parents are Japanese/Black (may have known Haitian). To come here and defend the cartoon on the basis that “you thought she was Hawaiian” is idiotic. Goodbye.

I had no idea who Osaka was until this incident. I really don't watch much in the way of tennis these days.

I clicked on a thread to find out why Serena was being called a baby and bully and that is when I first heard of what happened. I've since watched a video of her meltdown so I'm aware of what happened. You don't need to be an expert on tennis to see that Serena had a bad day. Osaka's heritage has nothing to do with it although people are sure trying to make it an issue...

If you actually watched tennis you would know that what happened with serena has happened with dozens and dozens of men but you don't know about that because when men in tennis do what Serena did... it's not in the news because it is considered strong and passionate ... never described as a meltdown.

I watch other sports like football and men get benched and their teams get penalized if they behave like that.

I remember McEnroe being penalized and made of fun of when he acted like a big baby, too.

If men are regularly behaving like Serena did w/o being penalized then the rules need better enforcement. It does not mean that what Serena did was right or that she should not have been called out for it.

If somebody pulled that crap in figure skating they would never skate in front of the judges again.

Football players do not get benched for getting in the face of the referee, nor do they get fined. You can google Tom Brady yells at ref and watch video after video after video.

Yes. They either need to enforce the rules for men or treat women the same. Nobody is asking for special treatment, people are asking that the rules be the same.

Have you ever seen a hockey game?

If Tom Brady screamed at a referee and then walked onto the field and threw his helmet he would most definitely get penalized.

[Anonymous]

One week earlier:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love all the comments claiming Osaka is being depicted as white and blonde when A) her hair is dyed blonde IRL and B) the cartoonist used THE EXACT SAME SHADE OF BROWN for her as he did in his depiction of Williams.

OMG, I didn't even realize that. I had to go back and look at the cartoon again and you're right - the two tennis players have the same color skin in the drawing. It's weird that I (and a lot of others) are "seeing" white skin on the blonde tennis player and dark skin on the Serena player yet they are the same shade. Those calling this racist: what are your thoughts on that?

No they are not. “Serena” has dark brown shading all over her. The other tennis player does not