Memin Pinguin To Be Taken off Walmart's Comic Book Shelf
Judy Ramsook
July 09, 2008
In this day of Political Correctness, some people exercise caution when addressing, referring to and labeling certain individuals and or items.
For example, some people might take offense if they hear someone use the word ´Blackboard´ when the less offensive ´Chalkboard´ will suffice. And when it comes to the matter of a literary work, in this case a comic book, some persons might want some kind of action taken if they encounter something in the work that is deemed offensive.
And the comic book in this case is: ´Memin Pinguin.´ In this particular comic book, there is a fictional character (Memin Pinguin) who is portrayed as being: poor, monkey like in appearance, and of Cuban-Mexican ancestry.
But what has some people a little annoyed in the latest issue, the one that is supposed to be taken off Walmart´s comic book shelf, is, Memin Pinguin is being referred to as a ´Negro´ by other characters in the book.
In addition, when Memin is being bullied, he is also referred to as a ´Negro.´ Now this Memin Pinguin character is not exactly new to the world of comic books.
According to wikipedia.com, in the 1940s, Memin appeared in a comic book known as Pepin. Later he got to star in his own comic book series, and apparently, the series has been a hit ever since.
And in a time when most people´s sensitivity level is rather high, no one needs to be referred to as ´Negro´ or the other ´N´ word. Not even a fictional, shoe shining, Cuban-Mexican, poor boy one can find while perusing a comic book known as Memin Pinguin.
For example, some people might take offense if they hear someone use the word ´Blackboard´ when the less offensive ´Chalkboard´ will suffice. And when it comes to the matter of a literary work, in this case a comic book, some persons might want some kind of action taken if they encounter something in the work that is deemed offensive.
And the comic book in this case is: ´Memin Pinguin.´ In this particular comic book, there is a fictional character (Memin Pinguin) who is portrayed as being: poor, monkey like in appearance, and of Cuban-Mexican ancestry.
But what has some people a little annoyed in the latest issue, the one that is supposed to be taken off Walmart´s comic book shelf, is, Memin Pinguin is being referred to as a ´Negro´ by other characters in the book.
In addition, when Memin is being bullied, he is also referred to as a ´Negro.´ Now this Memin Pinguin character is not exactly new to the world of comic books.
According to wikipedia.com, in the 1940s, Memin appeared in a comic book known as Pepin. Later he got to star in his own comic book series, and apparently, the series has been a hit ever since.
And in a time when most people´s sensitivity level is rather high, no one needs to be referred to as ´Negro´ or the other ´N´ word. Not even a fictional, shoe shining, Cuban-Mexican, poor boy one can find while perusing a comic book known as Memin Pinguin.