Judge — November 4, 1882 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts an African American man ("colored brother") positioned uncertainly between competing political forces, representing the pivotal voting bloc's importance during the Reconstruction or Gilded Age era. The figure is surrounded by temptations and inducements labeled "high living," "gold," "watch chain"—suggesting political corruption and vote-buying tactics both parties allegedly employed to secure Black voters' support. The title "Which way will he go?" frames African Americans as a deciding political force whose loyalty was contested. The cartoon satirizes how both parties viewed Black voters primarily as bargaining chips to be swayed through material incentives rather than genuine political engagement. This reflects contemporary anxieties about African American political participation and voting power during a period of intense partisan competition.