Life — March 10, 1921 — page 27: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a young Black Cuban boy luring porpoises into shallow water near Cienfuegos, apparently for capture at a tannery and leather works. The image is part of a series titled "Give a Thought to Cuba," likely commenting on colonial labor practices and resource exploitation in early 20th-century Cuba. The satire appears to criticize the use of child labor and the casual exploitation of both human workers and marine resources under colonial or American economic interests. The portrayal of the "native colored boy" performing dangerous or exploitative work reflects the period's problematic racial attitudes while simultaneously mocking the callousness of industrial operations that relied on such labor. The cartoon invites readers to consider the human and environmental costs of industrial production overseas.