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Rebecca Martinez
ENG 101 Sec. 28192
Political Cartoon: Rhetorical Analysis
7 October 2015
Sweat From the Brow of Children
We find ourselves asking who makes our clothing, when we find tags on our clothes
made from China or any other country around the world. Corporation finds it easy to pay sweat
shop workers and children for low waged labor. Safety regulations and concerns of their
employees health go out the door, but they sure heck boost production when they are meeting
deadlines. Khalil Bendib drew a political cartoon called Trick or Mistreat, which relates to the
article, Live Free and Starve, written by Chitra Divakaruni, on the topic of child labor.
Shouldnt we offer a voice to the voiceless?
Trick Or Mistreat:
The cartoon, Trick or Mistreat, shows a starving boy from West Africa, and an obese
and diabetic boy from the United States, and in the middle of the little boys is Big Chocolate.
The West African boy is being forced to work by Big Chocolate who represents corporations
from the United States. He is skinny and starving, his ribs are noticeable, yet hes forced into
child labor. Big Chocolate kicks the defenseless little boy so he could hoe and pick coffee or
cocoa beans, to build the industry of chocolaty sweets for American children. You could feel the

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negligence and abuse the boy goes through in order to fatten up an American boy, while he
starves and works to death.
The American boy seems to be enjoying all the chocolate he is receiving on Halloween
from Big Chocolate. While Big Chocolate is forcing labor on the West African boy, he is causing
obesity and diabetes to the American boy. It seems as though these two boys have something in
common, Big Chocolate doesnt care about the health of either one. The West African boy
starves and gets skinnier every day; while the American boy consumes chocolate and gains
weight and becomes obese and diabetic. The issues found in this cartoon is: child labor,
childhood obesity, greed, and cruelty. Big Chocolate uses forced labor in West Africa and feeds
obesity and diabetes in the United States.
The Man Behind the Pen:
According to the Global Exchange, Khalil Bendib is considered as the minesweeper of
political cartooning in the United States. He is widely read throughout America, featuring in
newspapers across the states, and can be viewed online through his website www.bendib.com.
Khalil was born in Algeria where it was in war to declare independence from France. Currently
he resides in Berkely, CA and got his Masters Degree at the University of Southern California.
Other than his skills with pen and paper, he is a professional sculptor; His first monument was
the Alex Odeh Memorial Statue, An Arab-American who was assassinated in Santa Ana, CA
(Studio). Bendid, the man of many talents, is also the co-host of a weekly radio show called
Voices of the Middle East and North Africa, talking about matters regarding of the issues in

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the media, and politics (Khalil). Hes humorous and unique in a way for his readers and listeners
to understand his informative commentary on the politics.
The Abused Children:
The targeted audience for the, Trick or Mistreat, cartoon is for corporations who abuse
child labor; abuse children in Third World countries who will work for a ridiculously low wage.
Its intended for CEOs who use children for labor to make materials such as rugs and clothes,
consume these children into starvation because they see how desperately these children need a
job. They exploit poor children for their own benefit and greedy plans.
In Live Free and Starve, the targeted audience are Liberal People who are against Child
Labor. Divakaruni wants to bring awareness into the future of these children, if child labor laws
pass. He wants the audience to dig deep and bring in organizations to help former children who
were forced into child labor. He wants to bring people together to help the innocent children
whose lives are slipping away through forced labor and help them get back on their feet.
A New Beginning:
Chitra Divakaruni thought that child labor laws didnt make a positive effect for the
children in Third World countries. Her reasons are because no one would help them with
programs that would offer them a fresh beginning in life, such as education, food, medication
and clothing. Chitra grew up in Calcutta, India where her mother hired Nimai, a boy a little older
than her for work in their home (Hirschberg). She explained how well she was treated, but would
not disagree with anyone that thought it wasnt a desired life for a child. Chitra wanted to make a

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point across, what if anti-child labor laws were around when her mother hired Nimai, he would
probably be starving out in the slums with no help.
Battle Yet To Be Won:
The article and cartoon can relate because in Live Free and Starve, talks about how the
U.S. passed a bill stating they will not permit the import goods from factories where child labor
was used. In the cartoon, Trick or Mistreat, shows how they force child labor in Third World
countries. Children who didnt live a rightful childhood and were forced to work because of
poverty in their homes. They were sold to companies and they had to work like slaves to pay
their so called debt. Its a victory that child labor laws have passed, but the battle does not end
there. There is still another battle to win because these children are still hopeless because they are
in a nation that faces poverty. Receiving a good education should be the main concern for
children in third world countries. To acquire the basic skills and knowledge needed to further
their employment in a suitable environment (Olayinka). Helping them get up their feet by
educating, feeding and clothing them would help the children and their families have a head start
in a life that would be desired, even if they still dont have all the luxuries in the world.
Slight in numbers:
Although multiple people oppose forced child labor, a slight number of people fall into
this support. The dispute between the exploitation of children and their right as humans, gives a
fine line to these people who support child labor. In their view, Some kinds of work offer
children constructive learning experiences, and child labor is essential for economic survival in
most developing countries, (Tierney). We could argue that children have the right for economic

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survival, but they also have the right to be children. For instance, the threat in which they face in
agricultural settings such as: poisonous snakes and insects, also sharp tools and harmful
chemicals used to fertilize the farms, are examples of hazards. In conditions such as that, shows
the neglect of safe work environment in which companies impose the health and well-being of
the children working under their command.

Works Cited
Hirschberg, Stuart. "Working Lives." One World, Many Cultures. Ninth ed. New York:
Macmillan Pub., 1992. 178-180. Print.
"Khalil Bendib | Global Exchange." Khalil Bendib | Global Exchange. Web. 7 Oct. 2015.
Olayinka, Collins. "Nexus Between Child Labour and Youth Unemployment." Africa News
Service 16 June 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 8 Oct. 2015.
"Studio Bendib." Studio Bendib. Web. 7 Oct. 2015.
Tierney, John J. "Regulated Child Labor Is Necessary in Developing Countries." Child Labor
and Sweatshops. Ed. Ann Manheimer. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006. At Issue.
Rpt. from "The World of Child Labor." The World & I Online. Vol. 15. 2000. 54.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Oct. 2015.
"Trick or Mistreat." OtherWords. 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.