Stereotypes of African Americans: Postcards & Greeting Cards

Imagery & Stereotyping Explained

Black Caricatures

How some people try to distance themselves from these images

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Although postcards had been around since 1861, they became extremely popular following the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Sendings had to write on the front of the postcard until 1907, when the "divided back" card created space next to the address area for a written message. Due to their extreme popularity and their tendency to often incorporate humor into their messages, postcards were prolific distributors of racist imagery. A few stereoviews and greeting cards are also included in this section.

1891 Stereoview

1890s stereoview of former slaves picking cotton

1898 stereoview: "One stick of gum"

1900s Card with Interracial Kiss	c.1900s Postcard: Leo astrology sign	c.1900s Postcard: "Darkies Serenade Florida"	c.1900s Postcard: "Give My Regards to Broadway"	c.1900s Postcard: "Honey! You'se my turtle-dove"
c.1900s Postcard: "How Ink Is Made"	c.1900s Postcard: "I Certainly Do Miss The Children"; with White man playing "Hit The Nigger Babies" game	c.1900s Postcard: "I Want My Bottle of Ink"	c.1900s Postcard: "I'se A'Waitin' For Yer Josie"	c.1900s Postcard: "Painless Dentistry"
c.1900s Postcard: "Skinning a Coon"	c.1900s Postcard: The Old Slave Market: St. Augustine, FL	1901 Postcard: "Who's a Nigger"	1905 Postcard: "I Can Be Yo Mascot"	1906 Postcard: "Kiss The Gentleman"
1907 Postcard with "up to snuff" pun	1907 Postcard: "I have been hustling for a living"	1907 Postcard: "Sugar pie, why do you try to do like white people?"	1909 Postcard: "Chocolates"	1909 Postcard: "Have You Seen My Henry Brown?"

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