Life, 1923-12-13 · page 7 of 36
Life — December 13, 1923 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains racist satire targeting Black Southerners during the post-Civil War era. The top section, "Hints for Our Native Southerners," lists offensive stereotypes and instructions—including teaching Black people to call white people "boss" and mocking their speech patterns with phrases like "reck'n" and "y'all." The bottom cartoon depicts poor Black children in a street scene. The caption quotes an elderly white character asking what "those boys" are fighting about, with the punchline suggesting they need investigation to determine their motives. The overall message reinforces white supremacist attitudes common to the period, depicting Black people as inherently inferior, subservient, and comical. This represents Life magazine's editorial stance on race relations during Reconstruction or the immediate post-slavery period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-~ LIFE - Hints for Our Native Southerners What They Should Do Before the Winter Tourist Comes | TEACH all negroes to call all white men “boss.” » 2. Learn to drink liquor only in mint juleps. 3. Find out what is meant by term, “old plantation melo- dies,” and memorize words and air of at least one. Discover, if it can be done upon such short notice, a bald negro with a fringe of snow-white hair. Learn what is expected of you to justify term. “Southern hospitality.” ) Start immediately growing white mustache and goatee. Let each family come to an agreement now as to battles of Civil War in which grandfather received wounds. Train negro servants in following points: (a) (negro men) Answer only to Biblical names, preferably Moses, Abraham, Daniel and Ezekiel. (b) (negro women) -Wear at all times red ban- danna handkerchief round head. Decide now where old family plantation was located before Sherman burned it. Practice saying “reck’n” and “y’ all” until it can be done subconsciously. lf possible, find out what is meant by term, “Southern chivalry.” Procure broad-brimmed, black hat and long coat; if these can't be obtained in South, order them from New York. B. F. “GO your boy is going to be an archit “Yep. He says he likes to sharpen pencils.” The Well-bred Child: so Goop oF You To COME. Retired BROKEN-DOWN figure of speech knocked at the door of the Old Similes’ Home and begged admission as a permanent guest. It wi like hot es.” His day was over. Things were selling “like hot dogs.” Kindly Old Party: BLEss MY SOUL! WHAT ARE THOSE BOYS FIGHTING ABOUT? Urchin Bystander: to FIND OUT. comicbooks.com