# Is this image racist? (pic in thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092 "2013-02-12T17:14:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/21 "2013-02-12T21:22:43Z")
> [@cainxinth](#): > > I was going to use it to illustrate “siesta.” Given that in the States “siesta” has the connotation of being a Hispanic thing anyways, I don’t think illustrating the concept with a cartoon Mexican would be seen as racist. If you were using it to illustrate a paper on immigration policy or something, on the other hand, people would quite rightly interpret it as racist. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/22 "2013-02-12T21:28:51Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > But make sure the cat is wearing a sombrero. If it also has a big black mustache, all the better. > > [Oh, here you go.](http://www.portlandmercury.com/images/blogimages/2009/04/10/1239387631-sombrerocat.jpg) Useless. That cat is awake. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/23 "2013-02-12T23:05:22Z")
Apropos of nothing, how about that Verizon commercial about the nursery and the woman comes up to the desk and says “I’m picking up some cacti. It should be under ‘semen’.” OK, maybe it’s just me and my ears. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/24 "2013-02-12T23:52:48Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > There is a stereotype of Mexicans being lazy, and this could be (and hence is likely to be) interpreted by some as racist. > [@Gary\_T](#): > > I’m not aware of the stereotype of lazy Mexicans that **Revtim** mentioned – I usually hear about Mexicans in the U.S. being quite hardworking – but if there is indeed such a stereotype then this flirts dangerously close to it. I’d guess it’s a stereotype mostly held only by people who really haven’t met many Mexicans. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/25 "2013-02-13T00:14:15Z")
As a Yuppie, I find it offensive that he is napping in an Urban Sombrero. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/26 "2013-02-13T02:19:29Z")
> [@cainxinth](#): > > [http://www.virbo.be/upload/images/SIESTA.jpg](http://www.virbo.be/upload/images/SIESTA.jpg) > > It’s a drawing of a man in a sombrero napping against a cactus. What does it mean for an image to “be racist”? ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/27 "2013-02-13T03:20:42Z")
I’d say it could be, since the man in it is darker skinned, sleeping (IE: lazy) and fat. It certainly might not evoke a positive image of that individual. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/28 "2013-02-13T03:33:57Z")
I’d like to know how that guy found the world’s shortest mature saguaro. It’s either that, or the guy is a giant. And the guy in the bowler would be very smart to bring an umbrella. He’d use it as a parasol, the way people do in lots of hot places. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/29 "2013-02-13T03:40:16Z")
The cat is a great idea. I would steer clear of this image. It is definitely a stereotype and you wouldn’t have to take it very for far for it to be seen as racist. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/30 "2013-02-13T06:11:49Z")
My mom is Mexican. I can tell you that she most certainly is offended by that image type. To her, it would equal a mammie eating watermelon or an Asian with a conical hat. I know that in a lot of places - restaurants owned by Hispanics even - use that type of image. Mom is not amused. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/31 "2013-02-13T07:22:39Z")
So I guess this would be racist too, huh? [Dagwood Bumstead](http://mrwriteon.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/living-a-life-in-the-dagwood-mode-isnt-such-a-bad-thing/) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/32 "2013-02-13T12:01:50Z")
I’d say it was offensive - what’s wrong with using an image that actually reflects the true meaning of the word - [something like this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La_migdiada.jpg) - Google image search for Siesta, see how many actual photos you find of real Mexicans in sombreros… ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/33 "2013-02-13T12:15:11Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > So I guess this would be racist too, huh? [Dagwood Bumstead](http://mrwriteon.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/living-a-life-in-the-dagwood-mode-isnt-such-a-bad-thing/) Depends - is Dagwood a racist caricature? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/34 "2013-02-13T13:14:21Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > What’s he doing with an umbrella in the desert? Keeping the sun off, of course. It seems to be a bit of euphemism, but both the popular names for umbrellas suggest that they aren’t used for anything as practical as keeping rain off, but of keeping nice, unmessy sunshine off you (which was, of course, a real use as well): _Umbrella_ means “little shade” or “little shadow”, and _parasol_ means “sun shield” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/35 "2013-02-13T14:48:27Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It seems to be a bit of euphemism, but both the popular names for umbrellas suggest that they aren’t used for anything as practical as keeping rain off, but of keeping nice, unmessy sunshine off you (which was, of course, a real use as well): _Umbrella_ means “little shade” or “little shadow”, and _parasol_ means “sun shield” Which brings us right back to sombreros (“shade makers”) ---
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/36 "2013-02-13T14:49:48Z")
How is that racist? Good lord. Is everything racist nowadays? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/37 "2013-02-13T15:07:31Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Which brings us right back to sombreros (“shade makers”) So are sombreros used more to keep off the rain than the sun, too? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/38 "2013-02-13T15:08:18Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > How is that racist? Good lord. Is everything racist nowadays? I know. Next you’ll tell me that innocent pictures of bucktoothed Asians sitting in a big rice bowl are racist, or drunken Indians passed out in a teepee. It’s so hard to know what’s offensive these days! ---
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/39 "2013-02-13T15:12:34Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I know. Next you’ll tell me that innocent pictures of bucktoothed Asians sitting in a big rice bowl are racist, or drunken Indians passed out in a teepee. It’s so hard to know what’s offensive these days! Are stereotypes racist? Some would say no. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092/40 "2013-02-13T16:29:50Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > Are stereotypes racist? Racial ones, sure. Even the “positive” ones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-image-racist-pic-in-thread/650092.md?page=3)