Thank you, Peter. Liker trump, the Civil War never ended. And neither will end, until WE, the people end it by realizing there is only ONE human animal extant today, Homo sapiens, There is only one Genus: Homo, and only one species: sapiens, there are no sub-species, no genetically distinct group. Like my favorite animal Felis cattus there are only cosmetic differences. While cats consider themselves to be superior to humans and dogs, they don't consider themselves superior to other cats.
If we had an ounce of intelligence, we'd recognize the same. As individuals we may be intellectually inferior to persons of true genius, and superior to those of lesser intelligence - but even that is questionable as it depends on education and distractability too. But skin, hair, eye color are purely cosmetic and have nothing to do with intellect, talent, beauty of features etc.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I love the analogy with Felis catus—it’s a sharp way to cut through the superficiality of skin, hair, and other cosmetic differences that have been used to justify so much harm. The tragedy is that these surface-level traits, which hold no bearing on intellect, talent, or humanity, became the basis for systems of oppression that still echo today.
What I find fascinating—and heartbreaking—about the Darktown Comics is how they weaponized those cosmetic differences, exaggerating features to dehumanize and mock Black individuals. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile and arbitrary those constructs are, yet how devastating their consequences have been.
The hope lies in recognizing, as you say, that we’re all Homo sapiens—one species, one shared humanity—and dismantling the tools that have tried to divide us for so long. Thank you for sharing this perspective!
Thank you, Peter, you and I seem to be on the same page. I absolutely agree with your further comments. I enjoy and look forward to your yesteryear political cartoons.
It is so sad that a whole group of PEOPLE,were caricatured so shamefully.
We are ALL people,we all bleed the same red blood,and we were all made the same.
I really hope that someday we will have the capability to recognize that skin color or national origin makes no difference,we are all human and God sees every one of us the same.We are just people.All these"white snowflakes"also aren't special or any better than any other fellow human beings.Their prejudice just more clearly shows their ignorance.We should practice respect,not prejudice.
Thank you, Melissa, for your heartfelt comment. You’re absolutely right—it’s heartbreaking to see how an entire group of people was reduced to cruel caricatures, stripped of their humanity for the sake of cheap laughs and harmful propaganda.
Your words about shared humanity really resonate. Beneath everything—skin color, national origin, cultural differences—we are all people, and the fact that these superficial traits have been used to divide and demean says more about prejudice than it ever could about truth.
I used to pass out a copy of a cartoon and ask my students to write out their take of the message the cartoonist was expressing. We shared our interpretations. We learned a lot about each other in the process. I look forward to reading the book, James, that has recently come out.
Thank you for sharing this! That’s such a powerful way to engage students—cartoons can reveal so much about historical attitudes and cultural messaging, and the discussions they spark are invaluable.
I think you’ll find James especially fascinating. Everett takes the kind of critical lens you encouraged in your classroom and applies it to one of literature’s most enduring caricatures, turning Jim from Huckleberry Finn into a character of intellect, strategy, and quiet defiance. It’s an incredible exploration of how narratives can either strip someone of humanity or reclaim it with power and depth.
As a coda, I’m part of a team of online specialists working with the Library of Congress to build lessons and activities that help teachers and students dive into its vast collections. Tools like those cartoons and resources from the Library can be transformative in understanding history—and ourselves—on a much deeper level. I hope you enjoy James!
In terms of looking at this from the perspective of being an illustrator, these images horrify me with the level of hate behind the pen that drew these cartoons. While I understand an artist needing to earn a living, I'll never understand the justifications of an artist who is so inhumanly twisted as to create such racist, hateful propaganda.
OMG. I get it about historical context when viewing art,but geesh, Kemble must have been a real racist cracker SOB to be known as the "go to guy" for denigrating drawings of Black people.
Oh, yes. Amos 'n' Andy and Stepin Fetchit too. Which would be an apt name now for virtually any Republican office holder or right-wing media mouthpiece. Or most multi-billionaires.
I put James on my reading list a while back, when I heard it was short-listed for the Booker (lost, unfortunately). I appreciate your analysis of the performative and protective nature of code-switching. It’s an important facet not only of Southern Black life but also Hawaiians who speak pidgin, although the Hawaiians wield it differently.
And I especially appreciate you combining the language with the images of the period, as these become more dominant and relevant in today’s society. I’m reminded of the Andy Griffith show, where bumbling back-country bumpkins try to imitate their slick, big city role models, failing in much the same way the Blacks are portrayed as doing in these cartoons.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment! I think you’ll find James even more compelling with your appreciation for the layers of performative language across cultures. Everett’s exploration of code-switching as both protective and strategic feels especially sharp when contrasted with the grotesque ways that period media, like the cartoons, turned survival strategies into tools of ridicule.
Your mention of The Andy Griffith Show made me reflect on my own childhood. As a young kid, I watched Amos ’n’ Andy on TV—an experience I now see so differently. That show, with its malapropisms and caricatures, was steeped in the same kind of mockery that reduced Black characters to punchlines. It’s striking how deeply those narratives shaped perceptions, even when we didn’t fully grasp what was at play.
Pairing the language of the time with its visuals feels crucial now, especially as these patterns resurface in more subtle ways today. Thank you for bringing that connection into the conversation—and I hope you enjoy James as much as I did!
For some time, I've wanted to do a post on Currier & Ives' Darktown Comics. And about 5 pages into Everett’s "James" - the scene with him teaching slave talk to young enslaved kids. Boom - my post nearly wrote itself. James is a fantastic read.
Sadly, race baiting and fear mongering have always been integral to the political machinations of the far right, but now it's mainstream Republican dogma, and our democracy is in true peril. "Scuse me, Missa Trump, but sumfins busted."
Eric, You nailed it, my friend. Race-baiting and fear-mongering have long been part of the playbook, but seeing it morph into mainstream dogma is terrifying—and dangerous for all of us.
Your line about “Missa Trump” hit hard because, let’s face it, we both probably grew up watching Amos ’n’ Andy. Back then, we didn’t think about the layers of racism baked into that show.
As I was reading "James" a while back, I kept anticipating a twist at the end and what a twist! It's a book to reread again and again. As for Currier and Ives, I never cared for the illustrations and, of course, had no idea there was this hateful, ugly side to them.
Thank you for sharing this! I completely agree—James is one of those books that keeps revealing layers, especially with that twist at the end! I had so much I wanted to include in the post but held back to avoid spoiling the story for others. That’s why I focused on the opening scene of the children learning “slave talk”—it’s in the first few pages and such a perfect example of the brilliance Everett brings to James’s character.
And like you, I was stunned to discover this side of Currier & Ives. Growing up, I only ever saw their winter scenes or idyllic Americana. Uncovering the Darktown Comics felt like seeing the dark undercurrent beneath the surface. I’m glad the post brought that to light for you! James and this history make such a powerful pairing.
Outstanding. My dad was a regular in the annual Kiwanis Club Minstrel show. I’m embarrassed by their very existence, but grateful I grew past it. This isn’t true of many I know today. Thank you.
Thank you, Peter. Liker trump, the Civil War never ended. And neither will end, until WE, the people end it by realizing there is only ONE human animal extant today, Homo sapiens, There is only one Genus: Homo, and only one species: sapiens, there are no sub-species, no genetically distinct group. Like my favorite animal Felis cattus there are only cosmetic differences. While cats consider themselves to be superior to humans and dogs, they don't consider themselves superior to other cats.
If we had an ounce of intelligence, we'd recognize the same. As individuals we may be intellectually inferior to persons of true genius, and superior to those of lesser intelligence - but even that is questionable as it depends on education and distractability too. But skin, hair, eye color are purely cosmetic and have nothing to do with intellect, talent, beauty of features etc.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I love the analogy with Felis catus—it’s a sharp way to cut through the superficiality of skin, hair, and other cosmetic differences that have been used to justify so much harm. The tragedy is that these surface-level traits, which hold no bearing on intellect, talent, or humanity, became the basis for systems of oppression that still echo today.
What I find fascinating—and heartbreaking—about the Darktown Comics is how they weaponized those cosmetic differences, exaggerating features to dehumanize and mock Black individuals. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile and arbitrary those constructs are, yet how devastating their consequences have been.
The hope lies in recognizing, as you say, that we’re all Homo sapiens—one species, one shared humanity—and dismantling the tools that have tried to divide us for so long. Thank you for sharing this perspective!
Thank you, Peter, you and I seem to be on the same page. I absolutely agree with your further comments. I enjoy and look forward to your yesteryear political cartoons.
I love this cat analogy and insight thank you!
Powerful article, Peter. I’ll never think of Currier & Ives the same.
Brutal. Same as you re: C&I. Nevermore.
I know - what? No cozy winter scenes?
It is so sad that a whole group of PEOPLE,were caricatured so shamefully.
We are ALL people,we all bleed the same red blood,and we were all made the same.
I really hope that someday we will have the capability to recognize that skin color or national origin makes no difference,we are all human and God sees every one of us the same.We are just people.All these"white snowflakes"also aren't special or any better than any other fellow human beings.Their prejudice just more clearly shows their ignorance.We should practice respect,not prejudice.
Thank you, Melissa, for your heartfelt comment. You’re absolutely right—it’s heartbreaking to see how an entire group of people was reduced to cruel caricatures, stripped of their humanity for the sake of cheap laughs and harmful propaganda.
Your words about shared humanity really resonate. Beneath everything—skin color, national origin, cultural differences—we are all people, and the fact that these superficial traits have been used to divide and demean says more about prejudice than it ever could about truth.
I used to pass out a copy of a cartoon and ask my students to write out their take of the message the cartoonist was expressing. We shared our interpretations. We learned a lot about each other in the process. I look forward to reading the book, James, that has recently come out.
Thank you for sharing this! That’s such a powerful way to engage students—cartoons can reveal so much about historical attitudes and cultural messaging, and the discussions they spark are invaluable.
I think you’ll find James especially fascinating. Everett takes the kind of critical lens you encouraged in your classroom and applies it to one of literature’s most enduring caricatures, turning Jim from Huckleberry Finn into a character of intellect, strategy, and quiet defiance. It’s an incredible exploration of how narratives can either strip someone of humanity or reclaim it with power and depth.
As a coda, I’m part of a team of online specialists working with the Library of Congress to build lessons and activities that help teachers and students dive into its vast collections. Tools like those cartoons and resources from the Library can be transformative in understanding history—and ourselves—on a much deeper level. I hope you enjoy James!
In terms of looking at this from the perspective of being an illustrator, these images horrify me with the level of hate behind the pen that drew these cartoons. While I understand an artist needing to earn a living, I'll never understand the justifications of an artist who is so inhumanly twisted as to create such racist, hateful propaganda.
This, in light of Anne Telnaes' departure from WAPO...and her post today in honor of Charlie Hebro.
She's a hero!
Ann's pen tip cuts like a razor through the blight of oppression and hate.
Most of Currier & Ives racist Darktown Comics were done by just a few artists. Here's one - E.W. Kemble and more of his racist work https://twain.lib.virginia.edu/huckfinn/kemblec.html
OMG. I get it about historical context when viewing art,but geesh, Kemble must have been a real racist cracker SOB to be known as the "go to guy" for denigrating drawings of Black people.
Oh, yes. Amos 'n' Andy and Stepin Fetchit too. Which would be an apt name now for virtually any Republican office holder or right-wing media mouthpiece. Or most multi-billionaires.
I put James on my reading list a while back, when I heard it was short-listed for the Booker (lost, unfortunately). I appreciate your analysis of the performative and protective nature of code-switching. It’s an important facet not only of Southern Black life but also Hawaiians who speak pidgin, although the Hawaiians wield it differently.
And I especially appreciate you combining the language with the images of the period, as these become more dominant and relevant in today’s society. I’m reminded of the Andy Griffith show, where bumbling back-country bumpkins try to imitate their slick, big city role models, failing in much the same way the Blacks are portrayed as doing in these cartoons.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment! I think you’ll find James even more compelling with your appreciation for the layers of performative language across cultures. Everett’s exploration of code-switching as both protective and strategic feels especially sharp when contrasted with the grotesque ways that period media, like the cartoons, turned survival strategies into tools of ridicule.
Your mention of The Andy Griffith Show made me reflect on my own childhood. As a young kid, I watched Amos ’n’ Andy on TV—an experience I now see so differently. That show, with its malapropisms and caricatures, was steeped in the same kind of mockery that reduced Black characters to punchlines. It’s striking how deeply those narratives shaped perceptions, even when we didn’t fully grasp what was at play.
Pairing the language of the time with its visuals feels crucial now, especially as these patterns resurface in more subtle ways today. Thank you for bringing that connection into the conversation—and I hope you enjoy James as much as I did!
Well done, Peter. We need more light on our past here in the US. James sounds very interesting, and I'm reminded of how much I adore Huck Finn.
For some time, I've wanted to do a post on Currier & Ives' Darktown Comics. And about 5 pages into Everett’s "James" - the scene with him teaching slave talk to young enslaved kids. Boom - my post nearly wrote itself. James is a fantastic read.
Sadly, race baiting and fear mongering have always been integral to the political machinations of the far right, but now it's mainstream Republican dogma, and our democracy is in true peril. "Scuse me, Missa Trump, but sumfins busted."
Eric, You nailed it, my friend. Race-baiting and fear-mongering have long been part of the playbook, but seeing it morph into mainstream dogma is terrifying—and dangerous for all of us.
Your line about “Missa Trump” hit hard because, let’s face it, we both probably grew up watching Amos ’n’ Andy. Back then, we didn’t think about the layers of racism baked into that show.
As I was reading "James" a while back, I kept anticipating a twist at the end and what a twist! It's a book to reread again and again. As for Currier and Ives, I never cared for the illustrations and, of course, had no idea there was this hateful, ugly side to them.
Thank you for sharing this! I completely agree—James is one of those books that keeps revealing layers, especially with that twist at the end! I had so much I wanted to include in the post but held back to avoid spoiling the story for others. That’s why I focused on the opening scene of the children learning “slave talk”—it’s in the first few pages and such a perfect example of the brilliance Everett brings to James’s character.
And like you, I was stunned to discover this side of Currier & Ives. Growing up, I only ever saw their winter scenes or idyllic Americana. Uncovering the Darktown Comics felt like seeing the dark undercurrent beneath the surface. I’m glad the post brought that to light for you! James and this history make such a powerful pairing.
Outstanding. My dad was a regular in the annual Kiwanis Club Minstrel show. I’m embarrassed by their very existence, but grateful I grew past it. This isn’t true of many I know today. Thank you.
Clearly a dead "art" form.
I’m a Richmond Va native. I grew up in the “The Help” era. Maybe our recollections should be recorded before we say goodbye.
A New Years project, perhaps?
Ally introduced me to the “Jones Generation” concept. Hmmm…