This cartoon, by Ken Catalino depicts people discussing Barack Obama. Some are saying that he is so articulate. Some are saying that he is clean. One guy asks, “but, is we black enough?” In the corner Uncle Sam is trying to clean up a racism stain. He swears saying it still will not come out. I chose this cartoon because I think it highlights the history of racism that has existed in our government. That is what Zinn discussed very thoroughly in this weeks reading assignment.
This cartoon takes a stab at the racism that is present in our government. Zinn discussed several laws in Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom that enabled racism. He states that in 1808, slave importation was outlawed, but 250,000 slaves were imported after the law was enacted. It simply was not enforced. Zinn also discusses laws that were made with the sole purpose of protecting slavery. He discusses the Dred Scott case that essentially made slaves property and that owners had a right to retrieve runaways. Zinn discusses several other laws that had similar effects. The point is that racism was very much a part of government and it is still there today. Uncle Sam is trying to erase the stains left, but it just will not come out yet.
As soon as I saw this cartoon I thought about Zinn’s chapter. Uncle Sam on his hands and knees trying to scrub out the stain of racism is such an accurate picture. All the focus we have had on race and it is still present in our government.
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