An Australian newspaper published a blatantly racist comic of Serena Williams, and Twitter is calling it out

By Annasheffer

September 10, 2018

By Annasheffer

September 10, 2018

On September 8th, tennis fans around the world watched in shock as Serena Williams appeared to receive blatantly sexist treatment from a male umpire at the U.S. Open finals. Williams ultimately lost the match, and rising Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka was left in tears as the audience booed while she stood atop the winner’s podium. Williams has since been forced to defend her (rightful) outrage at the umpire’s sexist calls—and has even been backed up by several male tennis pros who say they’ve behaved the same way on the court without penalty.

However, it looks like there are still factions out there belittling William’s justified anger during the match—the most recent being an Australian newspaper called the Herald Sun, which featured an outright racist and offensive cartoon about the incident.

Mark Knight, who is the editorial cartoonist for the paper, proudly tweeted an image of the comic this morning, September 10th. Knight’s drawing depicts a caricature of Williams breaking her racquet and jumping up and down in a fit of rage. A baby’s pacifier lays on the ground beside her, and her face is distorted into a racist stereotype reminiscent of Jim Crow-era artwork (HelloGiggles has decided not to reprint the cartoon here).

Twitter users were quick to point out the implicit racism in Knight’s comic, making comparisons between the drawing and the depiction of black Americans in minstrel shows under Jim Crow.

Not gonna retweet that egregious cartoon from the Herald Sun- but I think it’s important for all the “ALL WOMEN” folx to take a moment and recognize why Black women were so particular in our analysis of what occurred. It’s misogynoir- multiple jeopardy, & anti-Blackwomyn BS.

— Treva B (@divafeminist) September 10, 2018

I wish people would stop RTing that ugly cartoon from the Herald Sun. That it ran at all required the approval of too many. Not one person spoke up and said, “No. This is not okay?” And people wonder what Serena was railing against in that moment on court? A lifetime of this.

— Alyssa Roenigk (@alyroe) September 10, 2018

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https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/1039161104038076416

The cartoon is grotesque. And shows how women — black women in particular — are viewed when we express ourselves. We don't get to be angry. And we rarely get to be beautiful. 🙁 https://t.co/Cdkbj1AopR

— Charlotte Moore (@CharlieMo444) September 10, 2018

I felt that loss for @serenawilliams but the Jim Crow cartoon done by @MarkKnight is deplorable and down right blatant racism You sir need to be knocked off your high horse as a result of your actions #HeraldSun you’re employing racist now..hmmmm 🤔

— marie.ogden (@DaOutSpkn1) September 10, 2018

The racism in the comic doesn’t stop with Williams, though. Several Twitter users pointed out that Osaka, who is of Japanese and Haitian descent, appears to have been whitewashed in the drawing. In the background of the comic, she appears with light skin and straight, blonde hair. false

Would rather not promote / share that disgusting cartoon by Mark Knight (of the Herald Sun! Australian racism 🙃), but holy wow, the delight people take in misogynoir is just awful. Racist tropes re: Serena AND erasing Naomi Osaka’s blackness, fucking hell.

— Wei Ming Kam isn't here right now (@weimingkam) September 10, 2018

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Not gonna retweet that racist, sexist cartoon from the Herald Sun- but 1) Serena is beautiful and STOOD UP FOR HERSELF. 2) Naomi Osaka is Japanese Haitian, not blonde. The cartoonist Mark Knight (@Knightcartoons) is 🚮.

— david (@realdavidonline) September 10, 2018

HuffPost noted that Knight’s editorial cartoons have been criticized for racism and sexism in the past. In response to the backlash against his U.S. Open comic, Knight defended his drawing.