Serena’s “meltdown “

Yes she did Anniebach. Which is precisely part of the debacle! I'm not quite understanding what your point is in asking that?

Perhaps someone so much better attuned to depictions of racism than me could tell me who on earth the slim, white woman with the blond pony tail talking to the umpire is in the cartoon?

Here’s a clue

That must be Naomi Osaker, completely overlooked on the court and wrongly depicted as a blonde in the infamously racist (or not) cartoon. No the person overshadowing both is Serena Williams throwing a huge wobbly.

What a disgraceful display of bad sportsmanship by Serena.

If a male player had pointed his finger with such anger at a female Umpire and called her a liar and a thief he would have been in a whole heap of trouble.

If he had said ‘and I have a baby at home’ admittedly he would not have given birth, we would have thought what has that got to do with it.

It was Serena’s choice, I would imagine, to come back to tennis so soon. IMO it was far too soon.

I am all for equality between men an women but I wonder if the balance is beginning to tip in the wrong direction.

I don't see how this incident can in any way lead us to consider that the road to equality between men and women means "the balance is beginning to tip in the wrong direction".

I am not defending SW loss of control in any way. Many of us return to work when our babies are under a year old. Losing control of our emotions shouldn't and couldn't be put down to recently having had a baby. Maybe becoming a mother has been more difficult for SW than she expected. Maybe she is struggling to manage the demands of being a top tennis professional with being a mother. That's for her to consider but losing her temper and behaving badly can't be excused by being the mother of a toddler.

Her behaviour was a disgrace, what excuse can be put forward for her when she threatened to ram a ball down an umpire’s throat , a female empire ?

I too ask if the balance is tipping to far

She was accused of coaching, her coach said he was coaching her, but everyone did it! Seemed to me that the umpire was fully justified. You can't complain because you were called out on an action you were taking. Plus of course she did break her racket.

What a truly astonishing non sequitur to question whether equality has gone too far. Why are so many on GN so misogynistic? It truly baffles me. And no one seems able to explain why the depiction of NO in the cartoon is acceptable?

Someone should remind her she was playing in the Arthur Ashe stadium

The cartoon of Serena Williams was acceptable because it encapsulated perfectly the childishness, aggressiveness, and sheer ugliness of her behaviour.
On to more important matters.
Has she received an invitation to the forthcoming Royal Wedding?

Well I guess it was inevitable that the usual daft 'racist' accusations would be made at some point.

I thought the cartoon was hilarious. I think those who complain must be totally totally missing the point that cartoons are caricatures of people - they ALWAYS emphasis prominent physical characteristics of the subject, so in this case Serena's large black lips.

She fully deserved this shaming of her disgraceful behaviour. I just wish she had been disqualified.

I didn't see the cartoon as hilarious. I don't see the question as to whether it shows a degree of racism as a 'daft accusation'. I suppose its too much to expect that cartoonists would attempt to avoid using stereotypical images of black or Jewish people, given the recent criticism of the cartoon admired by Jeremy Corbyn. The vast majority of people immediately labeled that cartoon as anti semitic. I do not see it as unreasonable to expect cartoonists to avoid using images generally associated with racism, that is very like the many cruel, derogatory and racist cartoons and drawings much in evidence in the Southern States of America in particular. SW is African American. Her ancestors were slaves. Call her out for having a dreadful temper tantrum but avoid any hint of racism.

I think from all I have seen and read, that the whole Williams family including the Father are totally in love with themselves and everyone else can go hang.They have huge egos, and this [outburst] which was verbally and physically threatening behaviour should be called out.

Jennifer you have absolutely no idea about racism and as with all the other apologists on this thread are incapable of explaining why the depiction of NO is not part of the racism of the cartoon. Thanks Iam for your eloquent riposte. As for lemons comments, are all other tennis superstars little shrinking modest violets - or would tbst only be the white ones? And especially the males? God it really is open season on blacks and women on GN isn’t it?

If you really can’t see that the ‘daft cartoon’ was unmistakably racist, you need to question your own casual racist tendencies.

Here’s a few clues..
Her opponent (who is actually bi-racial) is drawn as a blonde haired woman asking the umpire to let Serena win, demonstrating that as an (attractive) white woman, she is the superior one in this relationship.
The enlarged facial features, huge lips and the position of a dummy in the cartoon draws on dangerous stereotypes by reducing a successful black sportswoman to an angry, petulant child in need of restraint by her white masters.

Calm down maryeliza - your reaction is as out of proportion as Serena Williams’s.
Parting thought - just imagine in a years time when Olympia turns two and starts toddler tantrums............

And lemon in ‘all that you have seen and read’ you will have seen and read plenty about the horrific racist abuse that the Williams family have endured over the years, no doubt? Well I expect they deserved it all for being so successful - how very dare they?

Damn well won’t Maw stop bring so fucking patronising

Well said Craicon

Not an apologia for the cartoon, but reread your words

the position of a dummy in the cartoon draws on dangerous stereotypes by reducing a successful black sportswoman to an angry, petulant child

Black, white or sky blue pink, it is just that - the successful sportswoman reduced to an angry petulant child is precisely the image Williams has left us with.
I still think she has done women in sport, of whatever colour, no favours whatsoever.

Are you being deliberately obtuse Maw or do you not really understand anything about the Jim Crow era and its legacy of stereotypical negative representations of black people?

And Maw you’re another one who clearly must think the depiction of NO is perfectly OK? The’victim’ as an all -American girl with the blond ponytail?

I haven’t seen the cartoon

How useful that you know what I think MatyEliza must come in useful at parties.