The Serena cartoon — too much, too far?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I felt that the cartoon was sexist and paternalistic. But isn't women sport the same everywhere - a poorer cousin of male sports?

However, I do not think Serena was portrayed incorrectly in a cartoon. In fact this was the most recognizable cartoon of her that I have seen. Don't believe it - google "serena williams cartoons" and you will see what I mean.

This was a caricature, not a portrait. And it was a damn good caricature that was immediately recognizable. She is an extremely masculine and a big black woman. She dresses also in her own style. All of that was capture well in the cartoon. It was a very good drawing.

Serena messed up the sweet moment of victory for another, younger, colored woman. And that was the real tragedy. I expected better from her.

Well said.

Using the term "colored" to describe a biracial black/Asian woman is well said? gtfoh lol

NP here. But using the term “woman of color” is OK, right? Do you really not know this makes the term “colored person” also sound acceptable to some, particularly if they are younger and don’t know how that term was once used?

It sounds like you look for pretexts to shoot down anyone who thinks Serena Williams - a rich, spoiled athlete who leads a life of extreme luxury - should be criticized for her immature, petulant behavior.

I’m sick of being expected to praise athletes and entertainers who fail to model good behavior, and that includes the likes of Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, and Bill Cosby, as well as Nick Kyrgios, Kevin Spacey, and Louis CK.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry but I did not see racism in Serena's description in the cartoon. I found the way Osaka was drawn racist because it was not clear that she is not White.

People have written about how to draw Serena Williams so that it is not racist (link below), But, isn't cartoons drawn mainly to poke fun at something, and isn't it drawn as exaggerated caricature?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/09/13/a-racist-serena-williams-cartoon-went-viral-heres-how-to-caricature-her-the-right-way/?utm_term=.60788d49f290


Serena has a big face. In fact even when she is photographed with others, her face is not small. Her body is well muscled. It is not small. Comparing her to her coach, their bodies are similarly muscled to a large extent, but is that a bad thing? Her power comes from her body. Why is there so much anger about her being drawn like this? But I am seeing this as a non-White woman who has a darker skin tone than Serena, and I do not carry the historical burden of slavery or racism. What the African American community is seeing is something else altogether. That is their perspective.



I found another drawing of Serena. It is like a much improved better version of a real life Serena. Prettier, more slender face, balanced prettier more feminine features, curvier, perkier boobs, nipped in waist, more curvy Kardashian hips and thighs, an almost hour-glass figure. Not as gritty as she is on the tennis court, sanitized and fresh.


Is this more palatable? Would it have been better if the cartoonist was not White? Or if Serena would have won the match without any controversy? I don't know. Race is controversial is US and people are willing to give and take offence in things that others may not see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I felt that the cartoon was sexist and paternalistic. But isn't women sport the same everywhere - a poorer cousin of male sports?

However, I do not think Serena was portrayed incorrectly in a cartoon. In fact this was the most recognizable cartoon of her that I have seen. Don't believe it - google "serena williams cartoons" and you will see what I mean.

This was a caricature, not a portrait. And it was a damn good caricature that was immediately recognizable. She is an extremely masculine and a big black woman. She dresses also in her own style. All of that was capture well in the cartoon. It was a very good drawing.

Serena messed up the sweet moment of victory for another, younger, colored woman. And that was the real tragedy. I expected better from her.

Well said.

Using the term "colored" to describe a biracial black/Asian woman is well said? gtfoh lol

NP here. But using the term “woman of color” is OK, right? Do you really not know this makes the term “colored person” also sound acceptable to some, particularly if they are younger and don’t know how that term was once used?

It sounds like you look for pretexts to shoot down anyone who thinks Serena Williams - a rich, spoiled athlete who leads a life of extreme luxury - should be criticized for her immature, petulant behavior.

I’m sick of being expected to praise athletes and entertainers who fail to model good behavior, and that includes the likes of Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, and Bill Cosby, as well as Nick Kyrgios, Kevin Spacey, and Louis CK.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Tiger Woods, and Bill Cosby, as well as Nick Kyrgios, Kevin Spacey, and Louis CK.

Are you f'ing kidding!

You put Serena with those names and your whole post is discredited for you being daft.

If you would have put Andy Roddick, Aaron Boone and Tim Brady you might not sound like a lunatic.

[Anonymous]

Her arms and legs look like a man.

[Anonymous]

When men explode and have meltdowns they don't expect people to pat them on the back for it and say "Great job!". They know they'll be laughed at and people will be shaking their heads at their unsportsmanlike behavior.

Serena says she wants to be treated like a man.....right?

[Anonymous]

The Australian cartoonist does not care how we are reacting in the US. He drew what he saw and felt. Freedom of speech, people! He did not make up the incident of Serena's tantrum. Around the world, people do not care deeply about who wins. They care deeply about watching a great game.

Also, no one will draw a cartoon of people behaving well. They will only poke fun when someone is acting badly or stupidly. There you go!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Tiger Woods, and Bill Cosby, as well as Nick Kyrgios, Kevin Spacey, and Louis CK.

Are you f'ing kidding!

You put Serena with those names and your whole post is discredited for you being daft.

If you would have put Andy Roddick, Aaron Boone and Tim Brady you might not sound like a lunatic.

+1 you got to it first.

Jesus this thread is incredibly offensive. Let's say IF we agreed to disagree w/the match and Serena's behavior, itt wouldn't even matter because the majority of this thread is completely racist as is the cartoon. I cannot believe people really are in here trying to break it down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Tiger Woods, and Bill Cosby, as well as Nick Kyrgios, Kevin Spacey, and Louis CK.

Are you f'ing kidding!

You put Serena with those names and your whole post is discredited for you being daft.

If you would have put Andy Roddick, Aaron Boone and Tim Brady you might not sound like a lunatic.

+1 you got to it first.

Jesus this thread is incredibly offensive. Let's say IF we agreed to disagree w/the match and Serena's behavior, itt wouldn't even matter because the majority of this thread is completely racist as is the cartoon. I cannot believe people really are in here trying to break it down.

I know... going back the poster I responded to actually used the word "colored". When corrected claimed being too young to know "colored" is offensive, she must be 5, my 16 yo knows better.

It's bizarre how much conscious and unconscious bias/racism this thread has revealed.

[Anonymous]

I’m half black, in case that’s relevant re: our own biases. I’m in shock that anyone would think that highly offensive cartoon looks anything like Serena Williams’ facial features IRL. Instead, that cartoon is much more reminiscent of racist imagery from over a century ago in the United States.

I’m walking into work, but I wish someone could do a side-by-side comparison of Serena Williams and the cartoon to show just how different they are.

If anyone thinks that Serena Williams’ facial features really look like how they are depicted in the cartoon—and she has a pretty average looking nose and mouth comparable to most people of African descent—well, then I guess you think that all black people look like that cartoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I’m half black, in case that’s relevant re: our own biases. I’m in shock that anyone would think that highly offensive cartoon looks anything like Serena Williams’ facial features IRL. Instead, that cartoon is much more reminiscent of racist imagery from over a century ago in the United States.

I’m walking into work, but I wish someone could do a side-by-side comparison of Serena Williams and the cartoon to show just how different they are.

If anyone thinks that Serena Williams’ facial features really look like how they are depicted in the cartoon—and she has a pretty average looking nose and mouth comparable to most people of African descent—well, then I guess you think that all black people look like that cartoon.

I posted earlier. I agree she behaved badly on court. That has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the fact that the cartoon is RACIST. All of you defending it are out of your minds. You are just co-signing on all of the stereotypes about black women. This goes far beyond Serena and actually has nothing to do with her.

These types of images helped to perpetuate many ugly stereotypes about black people that actually got people KILLED. The fact that people can excuse it and not see it is extremely disturbing. And I am HORRIFIED that people don't understand the impact of this type of imagery on black people.

We don't need a side-by-side comparison to justify anything. This is a RACIST image. PERIOD. Go the African-American Museum and learn for yourself how this stuff has hurt not just African Americans but our country as a whole.

And I'll also add the image is RACIST too because of how it portrayed Osaka.

[Anonymous]

Damaging and RACIST. Pay attention to history.
https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/life/culture/article/2018/09/11/cartoon-serena-williams-latest-long-line-harmful-caricatures-black-women

[Anonymous]

Damaging and RACIST. Read up on it people!
https://ferris.edu/jimcrow/cartoons/

[Anonymous]

Caricatures (just like late night comedy!) are designed to offend. Duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I’m half black, in case that’s relevant re: our own biases. I’m in shock that anyone would think that highly offensive cartoon looks anything like Serena Williams’ facial features IRL. Instead, that cartoon is much more reminiscent of racist imagery from over a century ago in the United States.

I’m walking into work, but I wish someone could do a side-by-side comparison of Serena Williams and the cartoon to show just how different they are.

If anyone thinks that Serena Williams’ facial features really look like how they are depicted in the cartoon—and she has a pretty average looking nose and mouth comparable to most people of African descent—well, then I guess you think that all black people look like that cartoon.

Her facial features are supposed to be a grown up's facial features in the cartoon. The artist infantilized her features to portray her as a big, overgrown baby pitching a fit.