Life — January 11, 1917 — page 29: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts the ghost of Abraham Lincoln confronting a figure labeled "Sam" (likely Uncle Sam, representing the United States government). Lincoln appears disappointed, asking if Sam has forgotten lessons about slavery. The cartoon likely critiques post-Civil War American policy—possibly regarding Reconstruction, the treatment of formerly enslaved people, or rollback of civil rights protections. The specter of Lincoln invokes his legacy as the president who ended slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation. The small figure in striped clothing at the bottom appears to represent an African American, emphasizing the cartoon's concern with racial justice. The satire suggests the nation is betraying Lincoln's anti-slavery principles through contemporary political or social failures.