Similar Themes in Many Rosa Parks Cartoons

By: E&P Staff Sometimes, editorial cartoonists take a predictably similar approach to a subject.

That was the case with cartoons paying tribute to civil rights legend Rosa Parks, who died Monday. Daryl Cagle's blog (http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/blog/) posted 10 of these cartoons -- all showing Parks boarding a bus to heaven and/or getting to sit in front of that heavenly bus.

"In the world of editorial cartooning, there exists no greater visual metaphor or device than the 'Pearly Gates' cartoon," wrote Rome (Ga.) News-Tribune editorial cartoonist Mike Lester in a note posted with the cartoons. "Actually, it's not an editorial cartoon at all. It's a greeting card."

Lester, who's syndicated by Cagle Cartoons, added that the day Parks died he correctly predicted to his editor that many cartoonists would do drawings involving the "Pearly Gates," a bus, and a quote that went something like: "Come on in, Rosa. We've got a seat right up front."