This comic couldn’t be published today…I’m rather surprised to see it even reproduced. “Sambo”, “gold tooth”…and even prison-striped clothes on the young ’un.
I was also surprised to see this cartoon and it does show how much times have changed for he better in this particular case. It’s a social history lesson and we can’t deny that it’s the way things used to be. Sadly there are a few Neanderthals who would like to return to that way of thinking. We have some odious pseudo political parties the BNP and the EDL who actively promote racist views. Luckily they are dead ducks as far as getting elected though.
Maybe “the good old days” weren’t that great. Turner Classic ran a series of silent animation features this past Sunday. There were attacks on blacks and Jews, and it was considered great humor. Let’s not forget that the Amos And Andy radio show was done by two white guys. When I went to college in 1964 (in Gerogia), it was the first year that the school integrated, and it was only a handful of black students who couldn’t live on campus. And now we have a black President! I couldn’t be prouder.
What I find interesting is that the little boy isn’t speaking a stereotypical dialect. Nothing like Buckwheat in the Our Gang shorts. Yes, he’s a bit lazy about his "g"s, but no more than Skippy.
orinoco womble over 11 years ago
This comic couldn’t be published today…I’m rather surprised to see it even reproduced. “Sambo”, “gold tooth”…and even prison-striped clothes on the young ’un.
luckylouie over 11 years ago
Wow, times have changed!
Tog over 11 years ago
I was also surprised to see this cartoon and it does show how much times have changed for he better in this particular case. It’s a social history lesson and we can’t deny that it’s the way things used to be. Sadly there are a few Neanderthals who would like to return to that way of thinking. We have some odious pseudo political parties the BNP and the EDL who actively promote racist views. Luckily they are dead ducks as far as getting elected though.
starfighter441 over 11 years ago
Skippy having a black kid as a friend likely raised a few eyebrows when this was first published.
Kingoswald Premium Member over 11 years ago
Yes, not a bad thing to be reminded how far we have come … most of us, anyway.
CeeJay over 11 years ago
Maybe “the good old days” weren’t that great. Turner Classic ran a series of silent animation features this past Sunday. There were attacks on blacks and Jews, and it was considered great humor. Let’s not forget that the Amos And Andy radio show was done by two white guys. When I went to college in 1964 (in Gerogia), it was the first year that the school integrated, and it was only a handful of black students who couldn’t live on campus. And now we have a black President! I couldn’t be prouder.
APersonOfInterest over 11 years ago
I agree that USA has made great strides in race relations, but we still have a long way to go … here and abroad. Just ask anyone who isn’t white.
pauljmsn over 11 years ago
What I find interesting is that the little boy isn’t speaking a stereotypical dialect. Nothing like Buckwheat in the Our Gang shorts. Yes, he’s a bit lazy about his "g"s, but no more than Skippy.