Popo was based on Jinns or genies. Staff Officer Black, yes that’s his name, comes more from the Japanese getting a lot of Jim Crow era cartoons, but not knowing the historic baggage that comes along with it. It was mostly considered a racial caricature that didn’t really carry the same sort of hate we know it for in America. He also had Native America caricatures that most people don’t seem to have an issue with.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be looking to Toriyama for anything other then “Big Guy punches other Big Guy until one goes down”. He’s politically naive, not hateful. There’s a short list of other manga-ka who’s politics and… crimes should give you more concern. How Nobuhiro Watsuki is a free man bogus my mind.
Popo was based on Jinns or genies. Staff Officer Black, yes that’s his name, comes more from the Japanese getting a lot of Jim Crow era cartoons, but not knowing the historic baggage that comes along with it. It was mostly considered a racial caricature that didn’t really carry the same sort of hate we know it for in America. He also had Native America caricatures that most people don’t seem to have an issue with.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be looking to Toriyama for anything other then “Big Guy punches other Big Guy until one goes down”. He’s politically naive, not hateful. There’s a short list of other manga-ka who’s politics and… crimes should give you more concern. How Nobuhiro Watsuki is a free man bogus my mind.