Hammonds, Don

Read 150 #06462

3/10/22

Critical Paper #2

This “cartoon” of sorts was posted by

Instagram user @memeindustrialcomplex on

03/07/2022. The user utilizes a popular cereal

brand to depict all current world leaders as war

criminals. This can be tough to interpret

without an understanding of history and

imperialism. Barack Obama, for example,

maintains adoration amongst Africans in

America, who misguidedly believe that

anything remotely similar to liberation can be accomplished via electoral politics, for his eight-

year residence in the white house despite simply furthering Western imperialism. To interpret

this cartoon, one would need to have a thorough understanding the actions of each of the persons

depicted.

In the case of Barack Obama, the adoration held for him in the African colony on

Amerikan soil, is of an emotional origin. One would need to be willing to apply historical

materialism the actions of each of the men who lived in the white house in order to understand

this cartoon. The shock that those unaware of imperialism and its global impact may experience

from seeing their beloved Obama would hopefully inspire further research. The ambiguity here

also elicits laughter due to the race to the “moral center”. Each person and entity here has had

their hands in war crimes.

 From this cartoon, I can guess that the artist is more politically aware than most.

Uncovering the war crimes of the persons in the cartoon is challenging, as internet searches are

filled with their praises. Many of my biological kin refuse believe me when I recount the

atrocities of the Obama administration and link these atrocities to current events. The artist,

though obviously seeking laughter through this cartoon, also seems to desire that those who see

this cartoon go deeper, and question these “world leaders”. I would definitely consider the

cartoon a success, as sharing it on my personal social media platforms has inspired eye-opening

conversation to a few peers.