Mexico Issues Stamps of Black Character

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Mexico Issues Stamps of Black Character By MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jun 29, 5:11 PM ET



MEXICO CITY - The Mexican government has issued postage stamps depicting an exaggerated black cartoon character known as Memin Pinguin, just weeks after remarks by President Vicente Fox angered U.S. blacks.

The series of five stamps released Wednesday depicts a hapless boy drawn with exaggerated features, thick lips and wide-open eyes. His appearance, speech and mannerisms are the subject of kidding by white characters in the comic book, which started in the 1940s and is still published in Mexico.

Activists criticized the stamps as offensive, though officials denied it.

"One would hope the Mexican government would be a little more careful and avoid continually opening wounds," said Sergio Penalosa, an activist in Mexico's small black community on the southern Pacific coast.


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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050629/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/mexico_stamp_controversy

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1. Here are the stamps.