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"It is the large searching eyes... that might give you some insight into her character.”
Up until 2008, Saturday Night Live and other late-night shows made fun of politicians across the political spectrum.
And then Obama arrived and the comedy died.
SNL couldn’t mock Obama. Political cartoonists were nervous about touching him. How would that play out with Kamala?
Here’s a preview of political cartoonists singing the praises of Kamala’s beauty.
Today, that conversation requires us to wrestle with old toxic racial and ethnic stereotypes that were, sadly enough, immensely popular in earlier times. And unfortunately, that kind of racism remains a radioactive aspect of political cartooning, right up to the current generation of ink-stained wretches.
Given that ongoing legacy, the caricature of Kamala Harris, possibly our first Black, South Asian-descended, female president, isn’t just precedent setting. It’s a minefield for cartoonists — even more so because it’s a profession that’s overwhelmingly dominated by white men of a certain age. With that in mind, we checked in with some of the nation’s top political cartoonists to see how they’re homing in on the caricature of Kamala.
The answer is that they’re either terrified or in the tank.
Cartoonists are supposed to exaggerate features, but they’re not allowed to do that, or mock the politician, and they don’t want to do that.
So what’s left? Much like late-night comedy clapter and SNL featuring a mournful song after Hillary’s defeat, the only answer is cartoons praising Kamala’s beauty.
It’s either that or be called racist.
Here are some sample responses.
“I love how Kamala Harris’ default emotion seems to be joy.”
“…it is the large searching eyes set in a block of granite that might give you some insight into her character.”
“Unlike a squinting Biden and Trump, Kamala’s eyes are open and bright.”
Two cartoonists insist on making her look ridiculous to three who insist that she is filled with joy and has great big bright soulful eyes set in a granite face.
Cartoons of public figures exist to caricature them. What’s the point of a cartoon that doesn’t? Propaganda. That’s the point of everything now.
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