Judge — March 12, 1898 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon titled "Settling an Affair of Honor in Coontown" from Judge (copyright 1898). The image depicts a violent scene with racial caricatures representing African Americans in a derogatory manner typical of late-19th-century racist imagery. The cartoon shows figures engaged in what appears to be a chaotic fight or "duel," with one character stating "He's gone an' done it! Whoop!" after a bullet rebounds from someone's head. The satire appears to mock African American violence and dispute-resolution, presenting it as comedic and less civilized than white society's formal "affairs of honor" (duels). This reflects deeply racist attitudes of the Gilded Age, using grotesque caricature and stereotypes to demean Black Americans. The humor relies entirely on dehumanizing portrayal—a reminder of how mainstream publications normalized racist content during this period.