Stamp causes outcry
The week's news at a glance.
Mexico City
Leaders of Mexico’s tiny black community, joined by U.S. civil rights leaders, demanded that the government apologize for issuing a set of stamps they called racist. The stamps depict a 1950s–era cartoon character called Memin Pinguin, a caricature of a naive black boy with wide eyes and exaggerated lips. The Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton urged President Vicente Fox to recall the stamps, which the White House called “wholly inappropriate.” The controversy erupted just six weeks after Fox had to apologize for saying that Mexicans in the U.S. took jobs that “not even blacks” wanted. But he refused to pull the stamps, which sold out at many post offices. “All Mexico loves the character,” Fox said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Today's political cartoons - May 20, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - flags flipped, Diddy dunked, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Diddy admits to beating girlfriend after video
Speed Read Though he previously denied allegations of abuse, Combs apologized for abusing Cassie Ventura following the release of new CCTV footage
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden delivers Morehouse graduation speech
Speed Read It was the president's first time addressing a college campus since the breakout of Gaza war protests
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published