Foreign Media Again Targets Indians With 'Racist Cartoon, This Time Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse

foreign media again targets indians with ‘racist cartoon, this time over baltimore bridge collapse

New Delhi: A “racist” cartoon by a US-based webcomic over the Baltimore bridge collapse incident sparked outrage on social media. Notably, at least two people died and four others are still missing after the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed following a collision with a Singapore-based ship Dali. The shipping company, Maersk, confirmed that the ship was manned by an Indian crew. The ship had 22 crew members when the incident took place.

Crew’s prompt Mayday call moments before the incident gave time to the authorities managing the bridge to close it for traffic. It saved many lives. US President Joe Biden also praised the alertness of the crew in saving lives. However, the webcomic came up with a cartoon over the incident.

The cartoon shows unkempt men dressed only in loincloths and preparing for the impending crash. Foxford Comics posted the cartoon on its X handle. The webcomic also played a graphic audio in the background of the cartoon. In the audio, people could be heard interacting with each other in English but having a strong Indian accent.

Foxford Comics shared the cartoon with the caption. “Last known recording from inside the Dali moments before impact.” Soon the post went viral. It garnered over four million views.

Cartoon by Foxford Comics:

Netizens criticised the webcomics for the “racist” cartoon. Indian economist Sanjeev Sanyal reacting to the Foxford Comics post, said, “At the time that the ship hit the bridge, it would have had a local pilot. In any case, the crew had warned the authorities which is why the casualties were relatively few (for such a disaster). The mayor in fact thanked the Indian crew as “heroes” for raising an alarm that limited casualties.”

meanwhile, a Twitter user, Pooja Sangwan, said, “It’s shameful that people are mocking the Indian crew for the tragic incident. Meanwhile, the governor himself praised the crew.”

Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference after the collapse, Biden lauded the crew. Maryland Governor Wes Moore also praised the crew.

Other instances when foreign media targeted Indians with “racist” cartoons:

It is not the first time when the foreign media published such kind of racist cartoons. Earlier in 2014, after the success of the Mangalyaan mission. New York Times, a US-based newspaper, published a cartoon showing a man, dressed as an Indian villager, knocking on the door of “Elite Space Club” with a cow. Meanwhile, two men in Western clothes were sitting inside the cabin. This cartoon triggered massive outrage on social media.

Last year, a German cartoon mocked India’s population. German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ published the cartoon taking a dig at India’s rising population. The cartoon showed India’s population overtaking China. It showed an Indian train crowded with people overtaking China’s bullet train.