Visual Racism

As many have stated before me, this cartoon is clearly representative of the European Americans’ desire to verify the color line and perpetuate a certain stereotype of blacks in order to reaffirm their own superiority.  As we look at how the characters, Amos and Andy, are represented in the cartoon both physically—in blackface and exaggerated facial features—and in their actions—depicted as unintelligent and lazy—we can truly get a sense of how blacks were viewed in this time.  The way that all of the characters talked made them sound confused and simple and there were many other subtleties in the episode that addressed race.

The theme of the episode, for example, was preparing for a wrestling match, which cause the black characters to seem very aggressive and fearsome.  This depiction of blacks as scary and violent has been seen in various other areas of popular culture, especially in the film, The Birth of a Nation.  This stereotype allowed the whites of this time to justify the horrible treatment of blacks in the United States because blacks needed to be tamed. 

            The final scene of the cartoon, in the boxing ring, began with a panoramic view of the crowd.  All the spectators were screaming and shouting and were depicted as very rowdy.  This sends the message that when blacks congregate, they are loud and obnoxious.  What surprised me the most about this scene, however, was how blatantly racist it was.  At one point during the fight, the big and strong boxer fighting opposite of Andy transformed into a moose-like creature. His nose got very large, he grew antlers and he began growling.  At the time that this cartoon was made, there was probably no objection to this type of representation of blacks; however, I see this as disrespectful and demeaning.

             In lecture, Professor Hass talked about the minstrel performances and how European Americans would dress up in blackface and perform according to their perception of blacks at that time.  We can see the same type of thing happening here with this cartoon.  Here, we see a cartoon written and produced by white Americans depicting black characters in the way that is very racially constructed in order to establish their “otherness”.  One of the main focuses of this class is to observe the history of the United States through its popular culture—which is always constructed, biased, and produced in order to fulfill a specific objective.  The creators of this cartoon were able to create a certain kind of image of blacks in the U.S. at this time, which served to express their uneasiness with black male aggression and perpetuated negative stereotypes about blacks in general.  Although remnants of this type of “visual racism” are still present today, such negative depictions of blacks and other races are much less overt and thus much harder to detect.  One thing I had learned from this class so far is how present-day evidence of racism shows how alive and thriving it still is.

Amos and Andy

I found it interesting to look at Amos and Andy to understand the way whites viewed blacks during the time. The cartoon confirmed much of what we already knew; blacks were seen as lazy, uneducated, and animal-like. This is seen in the opening when Andy is sitting at the desk sleeping and it is also seen in the way that he speaks. The cartoon continued with the tradition of the minstrel music that Professor Hass mentioned many times in lecture. Whites were entertained through the exploitation of unrealistic black characteristics. Cartoons such as this one are the reason that stereotypes about blacks continued for so long; it was difficult to turn away from this image when whites continued to exploit them for entertainment.

Amos and Andy Vidio Blog

Amos and Andy, imagined characters by two white men, reveal the black sentiment of the early 20th century. There are parallels to minstrel scenes and black face, simply through the dressing up of African Americans with make-up showed through the lips and eyes in this cartoon. This cartoon implored and confirmed certain stereotypes circulating the minds of the American people. It was intended for the popular culture of the time, the white race, as entertainment. As we have seen in our discussions regarding the 'greater' race, they often use lesser races in order for their own gain and happiness. Here, these two white men conjure up these characters in order to appease the white culture. It's almost as if Amos and Andy, falsely, secure the held beliefs of African Americans in the white man's mind. Like others have said, I agree that this type of cartoon is not shocking for the time. Race was the focus of many people, and wanting their beliefs to be proven correctly was important. Therefore the entertainment business stepped in and gave popular America what they wanted. I can't help but think about the ways in which our current culture depicts a minority in order to satisfy the greater populace. Where can we see such examples?

Amos and Andy

As previously mentioned, this cartoon maybe a funny cartoon, but the time at which it was produced was as we have discussed a time where cartoons like this were present to reinforce stereotypes. In the cartoon the characters themselves are depicted in the style where they had big lips, big white eyes, they fought all the time, use the "black" dialect. I also found it interesting that the man that Andy was fighting was shown to be more animal like than human, the Mooseman. All these images show that whites believed African Americans were lazy (Andy sleeping at the desk), aggressive (fighting theme throughout), and to a point not human (the mooseman). And thus showing that this was not just be a fun cartoon, but a perpetuation of racial ideals.

Amos 'n' Andy

I too had never seen the cartoon before, and therefore did a little research on the show. I discovered that the producers were white actors who had experience in minstrel traditions. What began as a radio comedy turned into a television series, and was syndicated for over a decade after production stopped. What surprised me the most was the obvious racial stereotypes relative to the time period the series was popular. I was shocked to find out episodes were shown as late as 1966. The minstrel style was readily apparent, as all of the characters possessed exaggerated facial features, distinct dialect, very awkward movements, etc.

This cartoon ties into our discussion in section this week as well. The stereotypes presented served to further the racial undertones that existed in our Country at the time and continue to exist in some forms today. Taking a course in humor concurrent to 201, I was able to especially notice the minstrel humor presented throughout the cartoon. The extremely dark skin tones act as a form of blackface, indicating a production is supposed to be funny. The overll slow movement of the characters along with thier "primative" actions especially in the fight scene fall right in line with typical Minstrelsy humor. While this type of show did serve to strengthen the color line and contribute to the civil rights movement, it is important to understand that this was a part of American humor at the time. One can see similarities between the advancement of society in regards to progress and the path that humor and entertainment took as it developed into what we have today.

Amos 'n' Andy Post

I had never heard of this cartoon before, and was a little surprised after I watched it. This cartoon was created by two white actors, and their intended audience was white viewers. This show made a mockery of African Americans, and the way that Amos and Andy are portrayed is ridiculous. These two characters are shown as unintelligent and animal like. When Andy is about to wrestle Amos shows him a wreath that he’s supposed to put around Andy’s neck after he wins, which makes him look like a race horse. After the wrestling match begins, Andy’s opponent shows animal like behaviors and at one point takes on the image of a moose. At a first glance this may seem like a harmless and funny cartoon, but it is really a cartoon created in a racial period to portray African Americans in an unintelligent and silly manner.

In this week’s discussion, we talked a lot about the color line and I believe that this cartoon may have been created to strengthen the color line in America during this time. The cartoons popularity probably grew out of the fact that white Americans enjoyed the public humiliation of African-Americans. The cartoon was such a success that it was used as a promotional vehicle. Some primary sponsors included Pepsodent toothpaste, Campbell’s Soup, and Rinso detergent. This cartoon was also deeply offensive to civil rights groups, which helped to fuel the civil rights movement. Amos and Andy added to the prejudice of the time and was used as a tool to portray African American as stupid, lazy, and silly.

Amos n Andy post

This "show" speaks to a lot of the racial sentiment of the era. Not surprisingly, it is full of stereotypes and misinformation that create new, unfaltering views of African Americans and reinforce the old ones. What struck me the most was the way that the cartoonist blatantly paralleled his characters to animals (wreath around the neck like a race horse, competitor acting liking a four-legged animal, etc) and made the wrestling match little more that a spectator sport of dumb animals rather than humans. Even without the wrestling match, the Blacks were drawn like clowns, with their big,white circular lips. They are a circus show, dressed up and failing miserably to be "human".
By accident I also went on youtube and watched the sitcom Amos n Andy show, before I realized that we were supposed to watch the cartoon on the blog. The unintelligent characteristics aren't quite so exaggerated, but I think that the sitcom is more powerful of a mainstream influence on the white conscience than the cartoon is. Filmed in a similar way to "I Love Lucy" with comparable story lines, it goes one step beyond Lucy's ridiculous antics. By making Amos and Andy, supposedly educated Black men, the foolish actors in these messes they get themselves into, it sets an example of all Black men behaving in these foolish ways; whereas with Lucy, whites know that not all women cause such mischief. The racism is more subtle, but I believe, this "window" into Black life is much more influencial in creating racial stereotypes than the cartoon.

Amos n Andy reflection

This cartoon, as previously stated, seems harmless on the surface, but probably served to strengthen the color line in America at the time. The Amos n Andy show was a radio broadcast and became a very popular TV show. The way the African-Americans were portrayed with exaggerated features and dialect made them appear unintelligent, just how white Americans wanted to think of them. The show was probably such a success because white Americans enjoyed the public humiliation of African-Americans. The show was contested by civil rights groups, part of what helped pull the two races apart and what led up to the Civil Rights' movements of the 1960s.

I was somewhat unsurprised that this cartoon existed. Produced during a time of great racism, I was not surprised to see a cartoon which fortifies such prejudices become so popularized. On the surface, this may seem like a funny, harmless cartoon; however, a look at the details may reveal something deeper and more serious. A quick read of the background information reveals that the creators were two white men. This parallels with minstrelsy/blackface. In blackface, certain features of African Americans were exaggerated such as the lips and eyes. This is apparent in the cartoon. Its purpose seems to have the effect of rendering an entire races' appearance as comedic and something that is not to be taken seriously. Also, in comparison to the lecture given about cartoons the other day, it illustrates particular sentiments about African Americans such as laziness (shown when Amos finds Andy sitting asleep at his desk) and unintelligence (shown by some quotes from the cartoon like "weak in the head"). This cartoon, born out of an era of racism, serves to fortify prejudices felt during the time.

Amos n Andy: View Video & Post a Comment

When viewing this clip I would like you to think about this week's lectures and readings. Your comment should include your response to this cartoon AND how this clip relates to this week's major themes.

For more information about the Amos n Andy show, click *here.*

Questions you might want to ask yourself include:

Who are these characters? Who might they represent?
Who is the intended audience of this video?
What is the historical context?
How does it relate to this week's readings and lectures?
How does it relate to the larger themes of this course?

Video: Amos 'n' Andy - 1934 Cartoon, "The Rasslin' Match"

Discussion Questions for Week 7

Discussion Questions
1. How did race relations take on different forms in the North and the South?
2. Would it have been easier to be black in the North or the South? Why?
3. If slavery never occurred and Africans came to the United States by their own will, would they be more receptive to assimilation than the Mexican immigrants?
4. What are the visible effects of the racial practices of the 20th century in our society?
5. Will people forget the past relationships between blacks and whites now that we have elected President Barack Obama as our first African American president? Has this election changed perspectives on social practices such as affirmative action?
6. Why was it so difficult for Mexican immigrant women to assimilate into American culture?
7. Was it appropriate for the government to initiate the assimilation of Mexican immigrant women?
8. Was the Americanization of Mexican immigrant women a way to fill the domestic labor role in the West that black women usually fulfilled in the South? If the Mexican woman went to the South, would the employers be more inclined to employ her or a black woman?

Midterm IDs

Custer Myth

Battle of Little Big horn, Gettsyburg

MIdterm Id's

Blackface 

United Daughters of the Confederacy 

Midterm IDs

1.) Noble Savage
2.) Industrial Revolution

Midterm IDs

1. Hull House
2. CCC; Council of Conservative Confederates

Midterm IDs

1. Hannah (Little Women)
2. Farb

Exam IDs

Boston Tea Party
Centennial

Exam IDs

1) Jo
2) Playing Indian
3) Black Face

Exam IDs

1) Racial Formation

2) Sitting Bull

Midterm ID's-Samantha Kolkey

Week 4 terms: "Manifest Domesticity," and The Centennial 

Week 3 terms: Gender Roles, Laurie and Jo (Little Women)

Week 2 terms: Fraternal Organizations playing Indian (i.e. Red Men, Tammany)

Week 1 terms: Patriotism, Farb

Exam ID's

1) Star Spangeled Banner
2) Jane Addams
3) Trail of Tears

Exam IDs

a nation imagined

schoolhouse flag movement

Midterm ID Study Guide

Hello everyone,
Below are the terms you generated in section.

For your homework assignment, please comment on this entry with at least two additional terms from Weeks 1 - 4.

Week 5: Rebirth of a Nation

Theme/Concepts:
1. reconciliation
2. masculinity/manhood
3. patriotism
4. Manifest Destiny
5. white supremacy

People/Organizations:
1. Frederick Douglass
2. Theodore Roosevelt
3. GAR/UCV
4. George Bulch
5. Carl Akeley

Places:
1. Appomattox
2. American Museum of Natural History
3. White city

Events:
1. Columbus Day
2. Emancipation
3. Memorial Day
4. Page Law of 1875
5. Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

The Act of Misremembering

Although our discussion class this past Thursday only watched a small portion of the film, The Birth of a Nation, I still managed to detect the negative sentiments towards Blacks and their emancipation. There were many occasions in the film through which feelings about racial hierarchy and the fears about the destruction of whiteness and white purity manifested themselves.  One scene I remember distinctly is the one in which the black militia attacked the town toward the end of the movie.  This scene was introduced with a few words describing the black fighters as "guerillas", a term that carries with it various connotations--some of which include bestiality, force, aggression, unorganized fighting, and above all can very well signify ideas based on scientific racism and eugenics.  As we moved further along into the scene, the blacks began to destroy everything and everyone in their path reflecting the threat that these newly-freed slaves posed for the white population and their ideas about how the nation should be.  Lastly, the scene ended with the appearance of the words "Confederates to the rescue" and a band of white men rushing in and chasing away the fearsome black militia.  

This one scene gives us insight into the apprehension that the people of the nation were experiencing post-civil war and the nation's constant need to verify and assert its purity and strength.  This desire to rid the nation of those who did not fit the ideal social structure of the time can be seen not only in this film but in many of the readings we have read as well, such as Killing Custer.  We have already begun to see the darker side of our nation's history and it is quite sad, however true, that there was (and still is) such a divide in our country and such an aversion to accept the other--whomever the other may be at the time.

I will end this short commentary by saying that this course has already begun to change the way in which I view the nation and our past.  Of course, one could argue that some things that we as a nation have accomplished could not be possible had we not done some bad things.  This may be true to a certain extent and this, of course, cannot be changed.  What I find most fascinating, though, is the fact that we tend to gloss over some of the horrible, unprovoked things that we have done and even, in some cases, try to forget them altogether; or worse, try to justify them.  Professor Hass talked a great deal in lecture about the act of "willfully misremembering the past" in order to shape and construct our own realities so that they fit with what we most want our nation to look like.  I see now, more and more, how much this "misremembering" has affected our past and how it continues to play a big role in social construction and the way we view the world today.

Exam ID Possibilities

1.) Five Points

2.) Federal Conscription Act of 1863

Exam IDs

1.Elizabeth Custer
2. Columbia
3. Hull House

more exam IDs

noble savagery
tamany
"nits make lice"

More Exam IDs

Here are a few more potential exam IDs:

Carnival
Tammany
Noble Savagery
Blackface

Exam ID's

The Black Hills

The Hunters of Kentucky 

Exam Terms

1) Minstrel
2) Gettysburg
3) Custer Myth

Week V:Discussion Questions

Heres the questions for this weeks discussion...............

Discussion Questions
1. What were your initial reactions after reading the text?

2. How did your school teach you about the Civil War? Depending on where you grew up, are you swayed towards one side more than the other?

3. Do you think it’s important to say the pledge during school or at sporting events? Is it wrong for students to refuse to say it?
4. How do you feel about having the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why do you think people want to change it now but were ok with it when the pledge was written?
5. At the time, African Americans believed Emancipation Day would be a large national holiday, why do you think it is not celebrated?
6. Why do you think professor Hass had us read the article, “Teddy Bear Patriarchy?” (Keep in mind this week’s theme “Rebirth of the Nation.”)
7. Do you think the flag sill has same meaning as it once did? What does it represent to you?
8. What are some icons or symbols that represent America?
9. Do you think the same ideas represented in Teddy Bear Patriarchy (i.e. the attitudes towards war, masculinity, and nationalism) are present today?
10. How do you connect the ideas of Teddy Bear Patriarchy with To Die For?
11. Do you think that the United States will ever be truly united? Can we overcome cultural differences and inequalities?

Reflection #2

Reflection #2
To Die For: The Paradox of American Patriotism

I just finished reading O’Leary’s book and it made me wonder if the United States will ever truly be a united nation. I thought her argument was strong, and agree that the symbols of our nation emerged from strongly contested debates, and not through national consensus. We are a nation split by race, class, and gender. New cultural and political issues surface everyday, and it seems nearly impossible for Americans to put their differences aside and to come together as a united nation.
During the period between the Civil War and World War I, we proved that American practices haven't always lived up to American principles. African Americans, Native Americans, and immigrants were all mistreated during this period. There were controversies over the treatment of these minorities, along with deep tensions between the North and South. There are always new groups and organizations fighting for their beliefs and rights. So how can we ever be a united nation with so much conflict? Can patriotism triumph and be enough to stop all of the cultural and political conflicts? I think that a truly united nation is impossible, and that conflicts between different groups are inevitable.
The final thing that I wanted to say is that O’Leary’s argument made me think of the issue about the pledge of allegiance. There has been a lot of controversy over the phrase “under god” being apart of the pledge. But I believe that the pledge should be left alone. It was written a long time ago and is apart of American history. It is one of the symbols of America that O’Leary talked about, and the pledge should remain unchanged. Again, we are a nation that is far from having a national consensus on cultural and political issues. As O’Leary states in her book, we were built not on harmonious consensus but through fiercely contested debates.

reflection 1

sorry i just figured all this blog stuff out so i hope this goes well
I think we have had a lot of good discussions in class. I think they have gotten better as the we go because we have more references to discuss and connect certain books to eachother. With confederates in the Attic we discussed the culture differences between the north and south. That there is a much higher number of southerners that are actively involved with civil war re-enactment than northerners are interested in the subject.
With Playing Indians there was a very productive conversation. I believe this is because Native Americans are still dealing with hardships and racial inequality today. Indians have been molded and twisted into a character that white society has used for pop culture, sports, and stories. The true identity of what it is to be an "indian" has been lost because of education in school and because of what has become culturally acceptable. We connected PLaying Indian to confederates in the attic because both books had people acting as historical characters that have become modernized in some way.
Little Women was my favorite discussion because it really dealt with woman's identity in both history and today. We discussed how Joe is more modern than the other girls but in all actuallity it could be one of the other girls that would fit in better in modern times. Women are still expected to behave more emotional and are still considered the weaker sex by most cultures. It suprised me to find that the image of women in American culture has not change a great amount from the 1800s to now.
Our latest discussion about Custer was interesting but we tended to get a little off topic. I think we could have related Custer to playing indian because of the depiction of native americans in the battle if little bighorn was false. People saw Custer as a national hero and saw the indians as savages. What is clear from all of these readings is that people have been misconstrude through out history.