Wal-Mart Says No to 'Racist' Mexican Comic

July 9, 2008— -- Wal-Mart is pulling from its shelves a popularMexican comic book that features a protagonist with exaggeratedblack features after a Houston customer complained that "MeminPinguin" was racist.

The latest issue of the comic, "Memin para presidente" (Meminfor President), was being sold in select Wal-Mart stores that havea large Latino customer base, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokesmanLorenzo Lopez in Bentonville, Ark., said.

But the discount giant decided to remove the comic from storesnationwide on Wednesday.

"We understand that Memin is a popular figure in Mexico," thecompany said in a statement. "However, given the sensitivity tothe negative image Memin can portray to some, we felt that it wasbest to no longer carry the item in our stores. We apologize tothose customers who may have been offended by the book's images."

The Memin Pinguin comic was part of a series of Spanish-languagetitles carried in Wal-Mart stores.

A Houston customer, Shawnedria McGinty, spotted the comic in alocal store, and objected to the caricature-like depiction of themain character, a small boy with thick lips and wide-open eyes. Shecomplained to a community activist, Quanell X, who got theattention of local media.

A telephone listing for McGinty couldn't be immediately found.Quanell X declined comment, but planned to make a public statementThursday in front of the Wal-Mart store that sold the comic.

The comic, first published in the 1940s, revolves around MeminPinguin, a small Mexican-Cuban boy whose street smarts andadventures reflect the life of a poor boy in Mexico City. The boy,portrayed as a likeable rascal, earns money shining shoes andselling newspapers to help his mother.

The characters of Memin and his mother have been criticized asthrowbacks to stereotypical depiction of blacks. It is not thefirst time Memin has sparked debate in this country.

In 2005, the Mexican postal service issued a series of stampscommemorating the Memin character. President Bush and severalAfrican-Americans, including Jesse Jackson, asked the Mexicangovernment to recall the stamps.