Analyse of a cartoon drawn by David Horsey

1. Can you identify the five characters in the cartoon drawn by David HORSEY ?

Give their full names and say what you know about each of them. (chacun d’entre eux)

① Barack OBAMA, the first Afro-American president of the United States elected in 2008.

He was re-elected for a second term in 2012. He was the 44th President of the United States.

② Abraham LINCOLN (1809-1865)

He is one of the most famous presidents in American history.

He was the 16 th President of the United Sates.

He abolished slavery in 1863. (a slave = un esclave / slavery = l’esclavage).

He was assassinated in 1865.

③ Martin Luther KING Jr (1929-1968)

He was a famous Black American clergyman / reverend and the leader of the Civil Rights movement.

His speech entitled ‘I have a dream’ given in Washington DC in 1963 is one of the most popular

speeches ever made.

He won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964.

He was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee in 1968.

Martin Luther King Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January each year.

④ Joe BIDEN, Barack OBAMA’s vice president at the time.

⑤ Michelle, Barack OBAMA’s wife. ‘‘The First Lady’’ at the time.

2. ‘‘A certain day in January 2009’’

What does this day correspond to ? Can you give the full date ?

This day corresponds to the first Presidential Inauguration of Barack OBAMA.

It was on January 20 th 2009.

What are the three characters (① ② ③) doing ?

Martin Luther KING is holding a bible (He was a pastor).

Barack OBAMA is raising his right hand in front of Abraham LINCOLN who is doing exactly the same. (to raise = lever)

Barack OBAMA is swearing on the bible that he will always defend his country and the American Constitution. (to swear = jurer)

He is taking the oath of office as the 44 th President of the United States.

(to take the oath = prêter serment) (Il prête serment pour la fonction de…)

When Barack OBAMA was inaugurated, Abraham LINCOLN and Martin Luther KING were not

present of course ! Barack OBAMA regards/considers them as historical and symbolical heroes.

3. Can you imagine what the man on the left (①) is saying ?

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