Judge — May 13, 1905 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two satirical cartoons about colonial Africa and racial stereotypes. The top cartoon, "A Spring-Day Wish of the Class," depicts a schoolteacher (likely a missionary) describing African territory lacking Sunday schools, implying these regions need Christian "civilizing." The joke critiques imperialist attitudes—the teacher's earnest missionary zeal is presented as absurd naïveté. The bottom cartoon, "No Cause for Alarm," shows caricatured Black figures in striped clothing. The dialogue references "missionaries" and honesty, appearing to mock both colonial anxiety about Africa and the stereotypical depiction of African people. Both cartoons reflect early 20th-century American attitudes toward colonialism and race—presenting imperial expansion as humorous while relying on dehumanizing caricature. The satire targets missionary zeal and colonial pretensions rather than challenging the underlying racism.