The Wasp — June 26, 1880 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts various competitive "races" in American society. The upper panel shows a man in a top hat (likely a politician or wealthy figure) herding three caricatured children with exaggerated features toward what appears to be the Capitol building. The grotesque depictions suggest this is commentary on racial or ethnic stereotypes of the era. The middle panel shows horse racing—literal racing—in the background. The lower panel depicts rowing/boat racing on water. The title "Coming Races" appears to be a pun: simultaneously referencing actual sporting competitions (horse racing, boat racing) and making a darker satirical point about social hierarchies and immigration or class divisions in America. The specific identities of the figures remain unclear without additional historical context.