Over the almost 9 years of producing BlackCommentator.com we have learned a couple of things about political cartoons. Images are very different from words because they call on the observer to provide their own interpretation.

The expression "a picture is worth a thousand words" is not exactly correct because that many words can deliver a very strong and specific message.

Several of our toons have either been misunderstood or not understood at all. Therefore, we offer the following explanation.

We don't know what thoughts the Politician Magician animated cartoon provoked in your mind, but here's what we were thinking in the BC creative session when it was developed.

By using the Democratic Donkey and the bottom of the Obama Hope poster, the first image is the easiest to figure out. It represents the Democratic Party and Barack Obama together offering us hope.

When capitulation is added to hope the result is painful. The anguish of capitulation is represented by a tortured American Eagle. The national bird can easily be seen as symbol for the United States. Additionally, did you figure out that the injury is a missing "left" wing? This missing appendage is a commentary that we do not have a movement for social justice, economic justice and peace now and have not had one for several decades.

When capitulation follows hope, the result is painful.

We used the word capitulation because it is accurate. If someone compromises at the beginning of a struggle and does this over and over again it can not be considered an art - it is an act of cowardice - a surrender.

The victims of empty promises, mediocre action and cowardice become hopeless.

Hopelessness is manifested in many ways in the USA including an unacceptable school dropout rate and low voter turnout.

The final line in the cartoon, "What is the sound of one wing flapping?", is a takeoff on a famous Zen koan (philosophical riddle) which, according to Serge Kahili King,

"asks, 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?' The student of Zen is supposed to meditate on this riddle until some degree of insight or enlightenment occurs. The tricky part is that there is no right answer. What you are, or what you know, or what you believe, is what you get."

We at BlackCommentator.com are challenged to play a part of the creation of a new movement for social justice, economic justice and peace. Please support us with your readership. Thank you.