The Wasp — 1891 — page 310: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1891 *Wasp* cartoon satirizes California's delegation to a national convention. The standing figure holds newspapers and points to a seated man labeled as "California's Delegate Commissioned to Represent the Colored Race." The cartoon mocks the absurdity of this appointment—the visual caricatures employ racist imagery typical of the era. The satire appears to critique either: 1. California's actual appointment of someone to represent Black Americans at a political event, or 2. The hypocrisy of such representation given the state's racial attitudes. The "President's Chair" reference suggests a national political body. The cartoon's tone indicates *Wasp* editors viewed this appointment as ridiculous or contemptible, though the exact legislative context remains unclear from the image alone.