With the recent BLM protest and the gain in public awareness about police brutality against african americans, Liza Donnelly brings the unspoken side of policemen into light. In the recent media coverage & the BLM protest, people are accusing police officers of killing and using unnecessary amounts of violence, particularly against african americans. America’s societal and political spectrum is the most divided in years with the general elections and other leadership of Trump, racism has been in the spotlight. Donnelly’s cartoon aims to show that regardless of skin color we are all human and have the right to fear. Her cartoon shows the unrepresented side of the policemen, but also brings light to the issue of gun control.  

 

Donnely’s cartoon makes two major points. Firstly, the words “I’m a human being!” is an ironic statement in the sense that Donnely is arguing that all lives matter not just black lives. Furthermore, it is clear that both are human beings, but Donnely reinstates that the policemen are also human because the policemen are often dehumanized due to their uniform, causing the public not to  empathize with the policemen. Donnely argues that policemen have the right to be scared, and thus draw his gun and vice versa. Through this Donnely makes the point about gun control, since her cartoon allows the audience to speculate an alternate America where there is gun control, thus the policemen would be less inclined to draw his gun. Her cartoon brings both sides of the story and explains the emotional and thought process that could lead to an escalation in violence. 

 

Liza Donnely’s style features simple line drawing, in a simplistic and understable fashion. Her cartoon’s are also easy to understand and the context & content is communicated to the reader in a matter of seconds. Her style allows the cartoon to reach the audience in an effective manner, but more importantly allows the audience to focus on the meaning and context rather than the surface level drawing. Both the policemen and the person feature similar facial expressions, both expressing doubt/worry and fear which further solidifies Liza Donnely’s point that both the men and the policemen experience the same feeling of vulnerability and are more similar or are the same people regardless of position or skin color. 

 

The cartoon reflects Liza Donnelly’s theme of questioning social discourses to promote equality and equity. Her previous political cartoons are closely tied to the left side of the political spectrum, which ties in to the cartoons she made for the New York Times which is considered a liberal editorial. Although the topic of police brutality and gun control is mainly an issue debated in the United States, the implication of knowing the other side of the presumed enemy is also human. For example, riot police in Hong Kong or Myanmar are just officers executing orders from superiors and are also human, thus also fear the same thing protesters do. 

 

In conclusion, Liza Donnelly’s cartoon highlights the fact that there are two sides of police violence, where the side of the policemen is often not heard. Through the use of similar body language, thoughts and facial expressions, the two men are connected within the cartoon This helps illustrate that the police and man or a white man and african american man, at the end of the day are people, are closer and more related that we think.