Black Caricatures in America

       Black people were stereotypically portrayed as ignorant, lazy, primitive, illogically superstitious, happy at work or even musical. The most common archetype of black people was the dark or coon. White performers would darken their skin through shoes polish and other means, and perform the racist caricatures on stage, enforcing the already existing negative stereotypes of black people. They would wear makeup to exaggerate the size of their lips and noses, imitating stereotypical African features.
       Caricatures of black people were not just used to enforce white peoples opinions of black people, but also to enforce how black people saw themselves. The stereotypes used at the time impacted black and white people psychologically in how they perceived black people as a group and on an individual basis.
        There were many different characters that would be used. Below are the most common examples  of 20th century black stereotypes.

Sambo, Golliwog, Pickaninny

      The sambo stereotype was popularized in 1898 by the book The Story of Little Black Sambo. The original book suggested that Sambo lived in India, however this fact was overlooked by many American readers and the name Sambo was then used to refer to black men negatively. Sambo's were portrayed as very happy, laughing, lazy, irresponsible, and somewhat carefree. 

      Golliwog was a slur that was mostly popular in Great Britain and Australia. Golliwog is typically a doll of some form, and "Golly dolls" usually have typical black face features (black skin, big lips, big noses)

      The term Pickaninny was usually reserved as an archetype for young black children. The word comes from the Portuguese word for small child, however it was later used to describe black and indigenous children. Forms of the world are still used and are not derogatory in some languages. 

Mammy and Jezebel

      Mammy was a stereotype that arose during slave time. This stereotype is the most famous representation of black women at the time. She was dedicated to the white family she worked for, a confidant, somewhat trusted, but never equal. Mammy was in charge of the domestic life at the her white household, and was almost always very invested in raising the white children

      Jezebel was the opposite of the the idealized victorian woman at the time. The ideal victorian woman was reserved, poised, never promiscuous and of course white. Jezebel was promiscuous, an idea that stemmed from European opinions of African women when they first encountered them in the far warmer climates of Africa and European took the semi nudity of the African women as sexual deviancy. Jezebel was also portrayed as anti christian and therefore black women was seen as immoral. Jezebel was potrayed as having a large sexual appetite which propagated the idea that Black women could not be raped, because they would always enjoy sexual activity, regardless of consent. The image of Jezebel was even used as evidence and justification in court for a white man raping a black woman. 

       The Jezebel and Mammy were contrasted versions of black female caricatures. Darker skinned black women would fall into either category, depending on the white people in their lives. 

      

The Tragic Mulatta

       This stereotype was popular in films and it was used by white people as a cautionary tale for black people. Whereas the stereotypes of mammy and jezebel were typically dark skinned women, the tragic mulatta was portrayed as light skinned woman who could pass for white if she wished. This stereotype would depict these women as obsessed with getting ahead and obsessed with their ultimate goal which would always be to marry a white man, and therefore become fully white, "shedding" their African heritage through marriage and children. She is shown as promiscuous, mean, unsympathetic. She is hated because she is black and white and therefore cannot be accepted, and yet wishes to be white. 

Savage and Uncle Tom

       The savage was used to depict black people and African's as primitive, simple and sometimes even cannibals. Common images that incorporated the savage where white people being captured, cooked and eaten by black people. Savages would have lip plates or bones on their bodies. Black women would have overly large butts and bare breasts, once again enforcing the idea of promiscuous black women. The savage came directly from people who would argue for the necessity of slavery, citing the images as reasons why black people needed to be enslaved and was incapable of self care. 

        The stereotype of Uncle Tom was created to portray black men as submissive and unintelligent, more interested in the welfare of white people than black people. Based off of the book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, this is a particularly damaging stereotype that persists today. Historically, this stereotype was used by white people to keep down black men who tried to better themselves. They would be labeled a "sellout" or "house Negro". 

       This stereotype was is particularly detrimental to the black community, because today this term is used by white and black people to describe black men who hold opinions that aren't in line with the mainstream black community, valuing education, bettering themselves or are seen as being "too white" "white washed" or anything that could be perceived as thinking that you are "better than". Uncle Tom continues to be a common insult today. It is commonly thrown at black people who identify as conservatives in their politics. 

Sources:
https://thepolicy.us/the-myth-of-the-racist-conservative-and-the-uncle-tom-6b788afedcbe
https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/popular-and-pervasive-stereotypes-african-americans
https://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/coon/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Tom
https://library.stanford.edu/collections/caricatures-black-americans-sheet-music-1861-1947
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/arts/mammy-jars-black-history-month.html