The Wasp — 1878 — page 104: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts the Grim Reaper wielding a scythe over a crowd of robed figures—likely representing Chinese immigrants or laborers. The caption reads: "There Was a Reaper, and His Name Was Death." The illustration reflects the intense anti-Chinese sentiment prevalent in 1870s California. The robed figures suggest either Chinese workers or a generalized "Oriental" threat, common in period xenophobic imagery. The Reaper symbolizes death or elimination of this population. This appears to be satirical commentary on California's deadly Chinese Exclusion era—mocking either nativist fears of Chinese "invasion" or, conversely, critiquing violent anti-Chinese sentiment and policies. Without additional context about *The Wasp's* editorial stance, the exact target of satire remains unclear, though the imagery unmistakably reflects period racism.