Published in the Houston Chronicle by cartoonist Nick Anderson this past week, this political cartoons seek to make a mockery of the state of race relations in America and the nature of the American justice system on matters of racial tensions. This cartoon seeks to make these points in response to several issues that have entered the national spotlight recently, concerning matters of police brutality against minorities. Specifically, this cartoon was created in response to the ongoing situation in Ferguson, MO. surrounding the shooting death of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson, and more recent events surrounding the strangling death of Eric Garner on Staten Island.
Specifically, the artist's purpose behind the cartoon is to illustrate the degree to which police brutality has become an issue in our nation. It does this by depicting a police cruiser, with a number of human figurines painted on, and a caption denoting that these represent unarmed black men. This is designed to imitate a common tactic favored by fighter pilots during WWI and WWII, in which an enemy insignia would be painted onto their plane to denote every foe shot down in combat, as shown below.
Specifically, the artist's purpose behind the cartoon is to illustrate the degree to which police brutality has become an issue in our nation. It does this by depicting a police cruiser, with a number of human figurines painted on, and a caption denoting that these represent unarmed black men. This is designed to imitate a common tactic favored by fighter pilots during WWI and WWII, in which an enemy insignia would be painted onto their plane to denote every foe shot down in combat, as shown below.
In depicting the number of black men recently killed by police in this fashion, the cartoon evokes several important ideas, all of which are intentional. The first, and perhaps the most significant, is that it indicates the recent issue of police militarization in America. By showing a police car making use of a military-style decoration, the artist provides a comical example of a very real issue; domestic law enforcement adopting techniques and traditions from the armed services. This was first identified as a prominent issue when photos from the Ferguson, MO. riots surfaced showing police offers training military caliber assault rifles on unarmed protestors (shown below).
The second point which the cartoon enforces is the issue regarding the celebratory nature of police brutality among many of our nation's police officers. While no major recent events directly enforce the idea that certain police officers take pride or enjoyment from committing brutal acts against innocent minorities, the text seems to wish for the reader to consider this as a possibility when examining incidences of police brutality. In much the same way that fighter pilots would celebrate their kills by painting an enemy logo on their plane, the artist is suggesting that police may be symbolically doing the same in regards to the slaying of innocent minorities.
Overall the cartoon effectively achieves its purpose of offering a commentary on the state of the American justice system, the wrongful nature of America's police militarization, and providing a unique, most likely unconsidered take on the recent racially motivated tensions across the nation in the form of the artists suggestion that perhaps crooked police officers are celebrating their supposed "victories" against minority communities. It achieves these purposes through the use of a single rhetorical device; the emblem's painted on the police cruiser in the cartoon. Most political cartoons are brief in their textual offerings, while others rely on no words at all. This cartoon is effective at achieving its purpose because it allows the reader to clearly grasp so much from such a small reference.
Overall the cartoon effectively achieves its purpose of offering a commentary on the state of the American justice system, the wrongful nature of America's police militarization, and providing a unique, most likely unconsidered take on the recent racially motivated tensions across the nation in the form of the artists suggestion that perhaps crooked police officers are celebrating their supposed "victories" against minority communities. It achieves these purposes through the use of a single rhetorical device; the emblem's painted on the police cruiser in the cartoon. Most political cartoons are brief in their textual offerings, while others rely on no words at all. This cartoon is effective at achieving its purpose because it allows the reader to clearly grasp so much from such a small reference.
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