Life — August 18, 1887 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Explanation of This 1887 Life Magazine Cartoon This cartoon satirizes military discrimination against African American soldiers. The image shows a uniformed officer holding an American flag, gesturing toward what appears to be Black soldiers or recruits, while other uniformed figures stand nearby. The accompanying text references an 1887 military encampment in Chicago and questions whether "negro companies will be allowed to attend, parade and compete in the drill." The bottom text fragment mentions "DAYS ON DE PARAPET OR WAGNER AN' IN DE BREACH OF PETERSBURG"—likely referencing Civil War battles where Black soldiers fought. The satire critiques the military's reluctance to grant Black troops equal participation and recognition despite their service record, highlighting the racial segregation and discrimination embedded in post-Civil War American institutions.