# Is this cartoon racist (Tennis). **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 12, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230 "2018-09-12T17:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/1 "2018-09-12T17:02:34Z")
An Australian newspaper posted [this cartoon referencing Serena Williams](https://www.deccanherald.com/international/newspaper-reprints-692376.html) breakdown in the US Open women final. It’s been derided as racist. And I can see why, some might say that. But, I don’t think it is, since it references an actual person and an actual event. I cannot seen any suggestion that it puts forth the view that Serena acted the way she did because of her race. Yeah it exaggerates her looks. It’s a caricature, that’s what it is supposed to do. Here are pictures of the actual event for [comparison](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/tennis/serena-williams-open-meltdown-23-13215389). ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/2 "2018-09-12T17:11:26Z")
I would count myself as someone who is sensitive to and cognizant of the unintended possibility of racism in imagery, so my interest was piqued when I heard about this controversy. But I have to agree with you, I’m not seeing racist caricature. As you state, caricature exaggerates features, that is what I see. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/3 "2018-09-12T17:14:36Z")
Looks like a racist caricature based on the art. The pose/actions aren’t an issue. All racist caricatures are caricatures. That doesn’t really give them a pass on being racist. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/4 "2018-09-12T17:16:38Z")
Agreed with both Icarus and AK84. I think some people are seeing what they want to see. For instance, I’ve seen a number of comments about how Naomi Osaka was depicted as a blond, white woman. In the cartoon, she has a similar skin tone to Williams and you can clearly see from photos of the event that from a distance all you can see of her hair is her blond ponytail. In a possibly unconscious reaction, these people make an assumption not borne out by the image. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/5 "2018-09-12T17:17:18Z")
Yes, IMO it is racist. I couldn’t open your link to her real live pix, but I saw on the news some shots of her talking to the judge. She was angry and maybe a bit rude. She was right, and had a perfect excuse for being mad. Tennis has some archaic rules. They need updating. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/6 "2018-09-12T17:17:39Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Looks like a racist caricature based on the art. The pose/actions aren’t an issue. > > All racist caricatures are caricatures. That doesn’t really give them a pass on being racist. Is it possible to draw a caricature of a woman with Williams’ features that isn’t racist? If so, how? ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/7 "2018-09-12T17:19:03Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Yes, IMO it is racist. I couldn’t open your link to her real live pix, but I saw on the news some shots of her talking to the judge. She was angry and maybe a bit rude. She was right, and had a perfect excuse for being mad. Tennis has some archaic rules. They need updating. Did you see shots of her yelling at the judge? As for her being right, that’s a topic for another thread. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/8 "2018-09-12T17:23:16Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Is it possible to draw a caricature of a woman with Williams’ features that isn’t racist? If so, how? :dubious: I’m not a caricaturist, so I’m not really in a position to speak on what type of alterations are required for a drawing to qualify as a caricature. But suffice to say if a particular artist can’t think of a way to draw a person that doesn’t end up looking like a racist caricature, then perhaps they should rethink their approach entirely. I’ll confess that seeing that picture, though, I think avoiding racism wasn’t high on the artist’s list of priorities. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/9 "2018-09-12T17:25:15Z")
Yes, the cartoon is absolutely racist, and depicts Serena in an ugly, stereotypical way. For contrast, here is [another cartoon](https://twitter.com/deadder/status/1039129090316492800) depicting the same event that shows her accurately, but not as a racist stereotype. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/10 "2018-09-12T17:26:10Z")
What the entire fuck. Yes. Yes, it is a goddamn racist caricature. The “good person” is depicted as slim, blonde, (quite arguably) white, tidy and _quiet_. The “bad person” is depicted as fat, big-lipped, huge-mouthed, frazzle-haired, irrational, and screaming literally like a baby. It’s the Sapphire stereotype with just a touch of golliwog thrown in. Racist as fuck. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/11 "2018-09-12T17:29:05Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Yes, IMO it is racist. I couldn’t open your link to her real live pix, but I saw on the news some shots of her talking to the judge. She was angry and maybe a bit rude. She was right, and had a perfect excuse for being mad. Tennis has some archaic rules. They need updating. The real problem is the reflexive accusations of racism, sexism, whateverism, whenever a member of a pet class is treated uncharitably but equally. In the eyes of the Uber-pc mob there is literally no caricature of Serena Williams that would not have been labeled racist. I had a caricature of me and they gave me big ol’ lips. And before people bring up slavery and all that or minstrel shows, you do realize that the same act can be racist or not depending on motive? A caricature of a pro athlete acting the fool is different than drawing Serena Williams as a caricature merely because she is black. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/12 "2018-09-12T17:30:25Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Yes, the cartoon is absolutely racist, and depicts Serena in an ugly, stereotypical way. For contrast, here is [another cartoon](https://twitter.com/deadder/status/1039129090316492800) depicting the same event that shows her accurately, but not as a racist stereotype. That cartoon is pointless. Might as well just use a photo. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/13 "2018-09-12T17:31:39Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > :dubious: I’m not a caricaturist, so I’m not really in a position to speak on what type of alterations are required for a drawing to qualify as a caricature. But suffice to say if a particular artist can’t think of a way to draw a person that doesn’t end up looking like a racist caricature, then perhaps they should rethink their approach entirely. > > I’ll confess that seeing that picture, though, I think avoiding racism wasn’t high on the artist’s list of priorities. I have no problem with the idea that the author might have considered the reaction more, and perhaps he did. This doesn’t address the supposed racism though. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/14 "2018-09-12T17:31:50Z")
> [@andros](#): > > What the entire fuck. > > Yes. > > Yes, it is a goddamn racist caricature. > > The “good person” is depicted as slim, blonde, (quite arguably) white, tidy and _quiet_. > > The “bad person” is depicted as fat, big-lipped, huge-mouthed, frazzle-haired, irrational, and screaming literally like a baby. > > It’s the Sapphire stereotype with just a touch of golliwog thrown in. > > Racist as fuck. I’ve heard of golliwog, what is the Sapphire stereotype? ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/15 "2018-09-12T17:32:50Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Yes, the cartoon is absolutely racist, and depicts Serena in an ugly, stereotypical way. For contrast, here is [another cartoon](https://twitter.com/deadder/status/1039129090316492800) depicting the same event that shows her accurately, but not as a racist stereotype. That is NOT a caricature, thus doesn’t bear comparison here. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/16 "2018-09-12T17:33:00Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Is it possible to draw a caricature of a woman with Williams’ features that isn’t racist? If so, how? That’s how I feel. How do you draw a caricature of an athletic black woman without making her appear athletic and black? ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/17 "2018-09-12T17:33:15Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > The real problem is the reflexive accusations of racism, sexism, whateverism, whenever a member of a pet class is treated uncharitably but equally. In the eyes of the Uber-pc mob there is literally no caricature of Serena Williams that would not have been labeled racist. I had a caricature of me and they gave me big ol’ lips. I don’t consider you to be a spokesperson for “the Uber-pc mob”, and don’t consider your assertion about their inability to detect intended racism to be based in a true ability to read their minds. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/18 "2018-09-12T17:37:34Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > That’s how I feel. How do you draw a caricature of an athletic black woman without making her appear athletic and black? Why do you need to draw a caricature? What point do the large lips and ugly depiction make that the drawing in the cartoon I posted does not make? There are two purposes to a caricature - to make the person identifiable, which Serena clearly is in the cartoon I linked, and to exaggerate an aspect of their appearance to make a point. What point is made by making her look like a racist stereotype from a hundred years ago? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/19 "2018-09-12T17:39:34Z")
Is it possible to caricature a black person without it being racist? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230/20 "2018-09-12T17:40:14Z")
> [@andros](#): > > What the entire fuck. > > Yes. > > Yes, it is a goddamn racist caricature. > > The “good person” is depicted as slim, blonde, (quite arguably) white, tidy and _quiet_. > > The “bad person” is depicted as fat, big-lipped, huge-mouthed, frazzle-haired, irrational, and screaming literally like a baby. > > It’s the Sapphire stereotype with just a touch of golliwog thrown in. > > Racist as fuck. If you want to use a term like “good”, who was quiet during the whole match, and who wasn’t? As for her being depicted as blonde and white, in the cartoon Osaka’s skin tone is very similar to Williams, and _her ponytail is **blonde in real life!** _. And look at actual photos of Williams from the day. She had frizzy hair, she is very muscular and not depicted as fat, screamed at the judge more than once, and the exaggeration of her features is typical of caricature. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cartoon-racist-tennis/821230.md?page=2)