Editorial Cartoons & Immigration
Team Member Name: Megan Dolan
Publication: Cagle Cartoons
Date: August 25, 2015
Cartoonist: Daryl Cagle
U.S./International : U.S.
Title of cartoon: Anchor Baby
Cartoon#: 5
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
In this cartoon, there is a Hispanic baby whose body is drawn as if to be in the shape of an anchor, with the words “Anchor Baby” written on his shirt. The baby is smiling, and he is hanging by a chain connected to a lock of his hair, implying that he is connected to something (or someone.)
What is the context?
The term “anchor baby” has been used since the 1965 Immigration Act as part of the 14th Amendment, which says that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside.”(Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform, 2015). As such, the term refers to the children of undocumented immigrants who are born in the U.S. and granted automatic citizenship, giving a means by which their parents and relatives to also obtain citizenship (Knight, 2002). In other words, these children “anchor” their parents to the United States.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) positive or negative framing of the issue
2) framing is supportive of or opposed to supporters
3) framing is supportive of or opposed to opponents
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?
This cartoon portrays the controversy caused by the term “anchor baby.” By putting a child in the form of an actual anchor, it makes the point that putting children in such a position is far-fetched. Upon examining the cartoon, one notices the smile on the baby’s face. It looks innocent, like a normal child, further pushing the point that the people being referred to in a derogatory fashion are only children, putting those who use the term in an insensitive light.
Analysis:
Cagle uses labeling so that the audience can recognize that the child is being portrayed as an anchor baby. By exaggerating the baby's features and body posture so that it is perfectly in the shape of an anchor, this baby acts as a symbol of what politicians and others are implying when they use the term "anchor baby" in regards to children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants. An anchor on a ship is vital to the ship's survival when wanting to remain steady on the seas. So, drawing the baby as a symbol of an anchor raises an important question: is it right to use such a term when talking about children, and imply that they have so much responsibility toward their families?
This cartoon was published at the end of August 2015, recently after Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump proposed an end to automatic citizenship for U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants, and in his proposal referring to them as “anchor babies.” The use of the term is considered by most as offensive due to its derogatory context. Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski defended the use of it by saying that 400,000 “anchor babies” are born in the U.S. every year (Barro, 2015). However, Pew Research Center found that while that was an accurate number in the mid-2000s, it has now dropped to around 300,000, with no way to measure how many are born for the sole purpose of “anchoring” their parents to the U.S. (Qiu, 2015).
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Team Member Name: Megan Dolan
Publication: Cagle Cartoons
Date: October 23, 2015
Cartoonist: Rick Mckee
U.S./International (circle or highlight)
Title of cartoon: Obama’s Katrina
Cartoon#: 6
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
Here, McKee illustrates a common mentality on illegal immigrants. Seen are three children, two boys and a girl, out trick-or-treating on Halloween. The three are approaching a house, and two (dressed as a princess and a cowboy) are walking up to it through a gate. The third has stubble on his face, in ragged clothing, and instead of going through the gate is climbing the gate. As he does so, he declares “I’m going as an illegal immigrant!” referring to both his appearance and actions being his Halloween costume of an immigrant climbing the border fence from Mexico.
What is the context?
This cartoon is a portrayal of what is perhaps a common perspective among Americans in regards to the ease in which immigrants are able to cross the border from Mexico into the United States. For example, in September of 2014 Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar spoke out on a security problem at the border, particularly in Arizona. He sent out a tweet claiming “25 miles of barbed wire fence is the only thing keeping #ISIS out of America.” Although he was speaking of ISIS, he is known as a supporter for limited immigration, and also tweeted out photos of him stepping with ease over the barbed wire fence (Lee, 2014). Claims like this are not uncommon among politicians, and perpetuate the appearance of a simple “hopping of the fence” in connection to an issue that is much more complex.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) positive or negative framing of the issue
2) framing is supportive of or opposed to supporters
3) framing is supportive of or opposed to opponents
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?
Upon first looking at this cartoon, one is shocked. The initial reaction is to find it racist and demeaning. That’s the point McKee is trying to make—that certain ideas some Americans may have in regards to illegal immigrants is in fact stereotypical and offensive. By putting the reality of certain mentalities in a drawing, he is forcing the audience to take a look at what their own perspectives may be and recognize whether or not they are realistic or rational.
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Team Member Name: Megan Dolan
Publication: Investor’s Business Daily
Date: July 10, 2014
Cartoonist: Michael Ramirez
U.S./International: U.S.
Title of cartoon: Obama’s Katrina and the Waves of Children
Cartoon#: 7
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
In this cartoon, President Obama is illustrated walking next to a golfing caddy, giving the idea that he is out golfing. He is talking on the phone, saying, “I’m much too busy to go to the border.” Meanwhile, he isn’t paying attention to a huge “wave” that is about to crash down on him. His caddy looks up in horror at the oncoming wave.
What is the context?
Between fall of 2013 and July of 2014, an estimated 63,000 children from Mexico and Central America (predominately Central America)—most unaccompanied by adults—were taken into custody (Renwick, 2014). According to NPR, that number is double the amount in those nine months the previous year and 10 times the number in 2009 (Greenblatt, 2014).The influx of migrant children is most likely being caused by a desire for more safety and security, fueled by increasing violence and poverty in home countries such as El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala (Renwick, 2014). Although U.S. policy allows Mexican children to be sent back quickly and easily over the border, a 2008 law known as the Trafficking Victim Protection Reauthorization Act deems that Central American children must be given a court hearing before being deported (Greenblatt, 2014). But with such a high amount of children coming in, a backlog of court hearings gives them years before they even have a hearing.
In July of 2014, President Obama requested $4 billion dollars from Congress to “deal with the problem” (Greenblatt, 2014). His stance is more of a focus on deterrence from it being a continuing problem. Reports were released in July of that year indicating that a former government employee in Tucson, Arizona approached the Department of Homeland Security as early as 2011 to warn them of an “incoming exodus.” His requests to meet with them were unanswered (Lee, 2014).
Tone of the cartoon:
1) positive or negative framing of the issue (circle or highlight answer)
2) framing is supportive of or opposed to supporters
3) framing is supportive of or opposed to opponents
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue? (In other words, what does the cartoonist want you to believe after looking at this cartoon?)
The cartoonist wants to give the idea that President Obama has been indifferent toward the high influx of illegal immigrant children, claiming that he is “too busy” when really perhaps he is not. He is also implying through this cartoon that although Obama acts indifferent, and perhaps because he acts indifferent to the situation, he is unaware of just how big of a problem it will become.
Analysis:
First of all, it is interesting to note the contrast, drawn from context, of how differently the situation between Mexico and Central America is treated, although it is the same geographic region. This was the primary purpose of analyzing this cartoon. Obama has taken great interest in Immigration Reform, and particularly in regards to Mexico. However, this cartoon attempts to show a different approach Obama takes towards those from other countries in the region--particularly those suffereing from poverty and violence.
Ramirez exaggerates Obama's physical features, giving him a small body and big ears. Ramirez draws him this way in all of his cartoons, making him identifiable with or without a label through exaggeration. He does use labeling through the title, however, labeling the children as a "wave" and drawing them in that form, and calling it "Obama's Katrina" which is what many for a time called the border crisis (Tuttle, 2014). The wave symbolizes the large influx of children into the U.S. from the South. A wave, especially a big one, is a force of nature and cannot be controlled. This wave is a symbol of how uncontrollable the border crisis became. It is certain that President Obama is not out playing golf all day, but that is put in the cartoon to exaggerate the fact that perhaps he is paying attention to less important matters.
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Team Member Name: Megan Dolan
Publication: Cagle Cartoons
Date: September 24, 2015
Cartoonist: Steve Sack
U.S./International :U.S.
Title of cartoon: Protector Pope
Cartoon#: 8
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
Above, we see Pope Francis with a small family of immigrants—the parents and their child (their bag is labeled “immigrants). He has his arm around them, and his hat, or mitre, is leaned over enough to act as an umbrella. They are in the middle of a raging storm, but where the four stand it is dry, and there is light.
What is the context?
In September of 2015, Pope Francis made a historical visit to the United States. On Thursday, September 24, he addressed Congress and encouraged tolerance of the illegal immigrants coming into the United States from the South, and join him in a global campaign against climate change and poverty. (Burke, Collinson, 2015). He made the point that all in the United States come from immigrants, then spoke on the importance of compassion, saying “we must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation” (Qtd. by Singer, 2015)
Tone of the cartoon:
1) positive or negative framing of the issue
2) framing is supportive of or opposed to supporters
3) framing is supportive of or opposed to opponents
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?
What’s interesting about this cartoon is that it isn’t trying to persuade or support more one side than the other. What it mainly addresses in its portrayal is the importance of treating others well, regardless of the stance on the issue. By showing that the family and the Pope are bathed in light while being surrounded by a storm, the cartoon illustrates the opportunity we all can have to be like the Pope in giving aid and comfort to those less fortunate—whether they are here illegally or not.
Analysis:
Mckee primarily uses irony to get his poinst across. As previously noted, when is shocked when looking at this cartoon. However, in spite of the fact that this is not an accurate portrayal of illegal immigrants, it is a portrayal of how many think they are (in other words, how they are expected to be). By looking at the expressions on the faces of the children, the child going as an immigrant can act as the symbol of what those who don't know enough about the issue think about it due to what the media tells them. It's important to note the expressions on the faces of the other boy and girl--they look disgusted and angry. This can be looked at in one of two ways: they might act as symbols of people who are disgusted with illegal immigrants, or, they might be offended and confused by the other boy's "costume", therefore acting as a symbol of people who look down upon those with such preconceived notions of the illegal immigrants coming over from Mexico. Obviously, no one would actually do this on Halloween, but by exaggerating the issue, Mckee manages to effectively bring it to light.
Analysis:
Labeling is used to be able to clearly identify who the people that Pope Francis is comforting. A label is not needed for him as the Pope's clothing is so easily identifiable, although the title "Protector Pope" also does help. Even being directly in the middle of a storm, all four figures are perfectly dry. This exaggeration gives the idea of the solace that the Pope is aiming to give to immigrants (and the solace he wants the U.S. to provide). The Pope is also shown as a symbol of light, which he aimed to inspire in his address to Congress. The storm raging around them may be a symbol of the problems these immigrants face both in their homeland and as they come over the United States from the South, whether that be legally or illegally. The problems may include drugs, war, violence, and poverty, all represented by the symbol of the storm and darkness surrounding the Pope and this immigrants in the cartoon. By doing so, Sack effectively gives a tone of sympathy in the cartoon and a need for it.
(Cagle, 2015)
(Mckee, 2015)
(Ramirez, 2014)
(Sack, 2015)
