The Wasp — 1890 — page 372: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1890 *Wasp* cartoon satirizes San Francisco politics through racist caricature. The central figure appears to be a white political figure (labeled "Sambo") being interviewed by a "Massa Editor" about supporting a Black candidate for the Board of Supervisors. The cartoon's premise is a crude joke: the editor suggests such a candidate would require "whitewashing"—a double entendre implying both literal washing and political sanitization. The caption references *The Sentinel*, likely a rival publication. The image employs dehumanizing exaggerated features typical of 1890s racist imagery. The satire targets both the political establishment and the possibility of Black political participation, reflecting the deeply racist attitudes of San Francisco's press during this era.