An American Inheritance: Black Americana Postcards

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In addition to advertisements, these racist images were also shared between people in more personal ways. People sent postcards with these images to their loved ones. They might write about unrelated or everyday events while also spreading harmful stereotypes with each postcard.

 

 

During this era, people were also sending postcards showing another type of image of African Americans: lynching photographs. One of the most widely sent lynching postcards captured the lynching that ABHM founder, Dr. James Cameron, survived on August 7th, 1930.

 

 

Why do you think such violent and harmful images were sent from one person to another on postcards? How did this help normalize these images? What is the connection between postcards depicting racist stereotypes and lynching postcards?

 

 

 

In addition to advertisements, these racist images were also shared between people in more personal ways. People sent postcards with these images to their loved ones. They might write about unrelated or everyday events while also spreading harmful stereotypes with each postcard.

 

During this era, people were also sending postcards showing another type of image of African Americans: lynching photographs. One of the most widely sent lynching postcards captured the lynching that ABHM founder, Dr. James Cameron, survived on August 7th, 1930.

 

Why do you think such violent and harmful images were sent from one person to another on postcards? How did this help normalize these images? What is the connection between postcards depicting racist stereotypes and lynching postcards?

WatermelonPostCard
WildGooseChasePostCard-online

 

 

 

 

VIEW RELATED EXHIBIT

Discover how racist postcards mailed to and from Wisconsin residents between 1904 and 1942 reflected the widespread acceptance of degrading stereotypes of Black people. These artifacts reveal how racist imagery entered everyday life and helped reinforce the attitudes that sustained Jim Crow.

VIEW RELATED EXHIBIT

Discover how racist postcards mailed to and from Wisconsin residents between 1904 and 1942 reflected the widespread acceptance of degrading stereotypes of Black people. These artifacts reveal how racist imagery entered everyday life and helped reinforce the attitudes that sustained Jim Crow.

 

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