Stereotypes: History Of Racism In Animation

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Recommended: Racism in animation

Alfonso Guillen

Mr. Laureano

English II

13 December 2016

Racism and stereotypes in Cartoons : History of Racism in Animation

Every single Looney Tune character is a racial stereotype. Examples of this are, Speedy Gonzales, who is the Mexican stereotype, Pepe LePew, the smelly misogynistic French man, and Blackface. The characters are enhanced and are made to make a mockery of what they represent. Cultural traditions are disrespected and are depicted as fools. Cartoons were used to control the opinion of a specific cultural group by making them feel less than by depicting them to look stupid, making fun of their language, and altering and exaggerating their appearance.
In the 1938 cartoon, The Island of Pingo Pongo, the black characters are depicted as savages and wild animals. They have big lips, big feet and play jazz in the jungle. Right after the narrator says, “We hear the primitive beat of Jungle Tom-Tom. We come upon the beat of native musicians beating up the savage rhythm that is as old and primitive as the jungle itself,” the natives start singing the song “She’ll be coming round the mountain”. That song was sung by enslaved Africans. The audience connects jazz music with living in the jungle and being uncivilized. …show more content…

Speedy Gonzales is portrayed as a Mexican rat wearing a big sombrero, white shirt and pants and a red handkerchief. He also spoke English combining Spanish words.
“Hola Pussycat! Are you looking for a nice mouse

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