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Alfredo Martinez
English 113A
Holly Batty
14 December 2014
Racism Buzzing in Our Ears
Racism has not gone away nor will it ever go away. It has improved in the last
couple of decades but nevertheless its a big issue we continue to deal with in modern
society. Racism plays a big role in our history, we see it over and over again playing in a
endless loop. The Holocaust is a well-known example of prejudice and racism, with
countless amount of murders, deaths, and violence against a group of people. Hitler, the
supreme leader of Germany despised the Jews and wanted them abolished, but the Jews
werent the only ones targeted. The Nazi party had various races, religions, and sexes that
they wanted gone, so they could pursue the goal of having the perfect race, the Aryan
race. Racism can come in many forms: verbally, stereotypes, prejudice, and political
cartoons/ propaganda. Political cartoons are a popular outlet for racism/antiracist
rhetoric, the cartoons themselves have an exaggeration that depicts any political situation.
A cartoon that caught my attention was made by Dr. Seuss. Known for his storybooks,
Dr. Seuss made many political cartoons for the liberal newspaper PM drawing over 400
editorial cartoons criticizing isolationist between the years 1940 and 1942. He created
editorial artwork about nations conflicts and problems to inform people about the
excessive issues happening around the world. One of the political cartoons created by
Dr. Seuss that had attracted my attention was What This Country Needs Is a Good
Mental Insecticide created in the year 1942, June 11. Im going to discuss the artwork

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What This Country Needs Is a Good Mental Insecticide, within Dr. Seusss art work
Im going to find and discuss the hidden information depicting issues about America.
The political cartoon is detailed and fairly straightforward. Within the
cartoon there are several characters: Uncle Sam, a line of prejudice thinkers, and a tiny
little fly. The artwork takes setting in a clear white area with Uncle Sam standing in
front of a line holding a gun of some sort that contains compressed air, and the line is
filled with prejudice thinkers who are awaiting their turn to see Uncle Sam. When the
people in line finally reach the end, Uncle Sam then shoots compressed air from his
weapon into one side of the ear causing the air to travel through the other side of the ear.
A fly then comes out of the ear labeled as racial prejudice bug. As all of that happens, the
prejudice thinker yells out Gracious! Was That In My Head? I believe that this
specific Dr. Seuss artwork is antiracist. Its pretty obvious actually that Uncle Sam, the
fatherly figure of America, is removing racial thoughts from their brains. Hes making
America a better place, trying to change it to a place without the conflicts of racism and
prejudice.
Dr. Seusss artwork is actually very similar to his childrens book, probably to catch
some attention from his younger audience. Also most of his artwork is in black and
white, definitely because most of his political cartoon artwork is in newspaper. Which
doesnt allow Dr. Seuss the option of color. I also noticed that Uncle Sam is not centered
but is actually quite bigger than the other characters. It could be that Uncle Sam is bigger
than everyone else because hes more superior than the other characters. However the
line does go above Uncle Sam, addressing that the situation is far more important than his

own superiority. Although Uncle Sam is obviously twice the size as the other characters
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in the artwork the line does go over his head, usually in art, that addresses more
importance to the cause of the problem that is occurring. Which leads me to think that
Uncle Sam isnt the main focus here in the artwork. Dr. Seuss has a great way of
expressing the characters feelings within the drawing. Everybody thats in line is easily
notified as hardheaded and obnoxious by their stance and facial expression. Dr. Seusss
political cartoons have made me realize how in depth I need to view current political
situations.
The delivering messages from Dr. Seusss cartoons are racial and prejudice
segregation. People in society are now so arrogant and stubborn theres no way
of having them see the better good, they only have one view point and nothing can
change their views. Though I believe this artwork of Dr. Seuss is antiracism, others differ
some claim that the artwork still clearly represents racism or other relatable conflict. The
artwork clearly identifies Uncle Sam taking out the Racial Prejudice Bug it is unclear
for what reason. Some might think that hes there to add something worse, as if hes
implanting information or data far worse than racism. Maybe even taking away the right
to think for ourselves. As if the people of America are his puppets he can manipulate
to consume his own goals. Or what if thats not the only thing Uncle Sam is going
to deprive them of? Just look at his facial expression, so menacing and corrupt. You
cannot deny the fact that hes planning to do something malicious. Although Uncle Sam
does look menacing it doesnt make him a corrupted person, we cannot be quick to
judge. Uncle Sam is the face of America, the role model if you say so, what hes doing is

making America a better place to live in. Hes creating a new era of thinkers by blowing
out the bug of racism from their heads.
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In Black Men and Public Spaces author Brent Staples, makes several valid
points in his story that everybody is judged by their appearance and color. He argues that
no one person can go to the outside world without getting themselves labeled. My
favorite line from the reading that supports this argument is, Black man have a firm
place in New York mugging literature, stating that the African American race is
classified as muggers in books or writings. This leads into the category of broader
stereotypes and racial prejudice that happens in everyday life with not only African
Americans but many races and ethnicities. (184).
Racism has always been a big conflict, discriminating people for who they are and
where they come from. It is wrong because of their skin tone, religion, or for who they
are. Thankfully the times are changing for the best and well be able to receive more
open minded personas to help make changes into our society.

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Works Cited
"Dr. Seuss Went to War." Dr. Seuss Went to War. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
<http://libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dswenttowar/>.
Eastman, Arthur M., Caesar R. Blake, and Brent Staples. "Black Men and Public
Spaces." The Norton reader: an anthology of expository prose. 8th ed.
New York: Norton, 1992. 184. Print.
"The Political Dr. Seuss." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.

<http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/politicaldrseuss/seuss_fla.html>.