So Where Are You From?
September 14th, 2023 Barry Posted in Nadine Scholtes collaborations, Racism & Racists | No Comments »
This cartoon drawn by Nadine Scholtes.
TRANSCRIPT OF CARTOON
This cartoon has four panels. Each of the panels shows the same two youngish (20s or maybe 30s) women chatting at an outdoor party (there are lights strung in the air, and people milling about in the background). Both women are holding drinks. The sky is dark blue with stars faintly showing, indicating early evening.
The first woman is white. She’s wearing a red blouse, glasses, and has fashionably-cut straight hair, a bit long than shoulder length, with bangs. She’s holding a martini glass. Let’s call her “Glasses.”
The second woman looks like she has south Asian heritage. Her hair, also straight and fashionably cut, is parted on one side and ends an inch above her shoulders. She’s wearing a purple dress with a pattern of off-white flecks, and is carrying a brown saddlebag style purse over one shoulder. She’s drinking something out of a plain glass. Let’s call her “Dress.”
PANEL 1
Both women smile as they chat.
GLASSES: So where are you from?
DRESS: New York.
PANEL 2
Glasses, still smiling and maybe laughing a little, waves one hand in a dismissive manner. Dress is looking away, in a “can I get out of this conversation politely” sort of way.
GLASSES: No, where are you really from?
DRESS: Brooklyn. Look, just because I’m Asian doesn’t mean I’m not from America.
PANEL 3
An awkward moment. Both women take a sip from their drinks; Glasses looks away a bit, muttering.
GLASSES (small): Oh, right. Sorry…
PANEL 4
Smiling big again, Glasses rallies and asks Dress another question. Dress facepalms.
GLASSES: So where’d you learn to speak English so well?
TINY KICKER PANEL UNDER THE CARTOON
Barry the cartoonist, looking awkward and holding a drink with a slice of lime on the edge of the glass, is being talked at by Glasses, who has an aggrieved expression.
GLASSES: Why is she offended? It was a compliment.
