The Wasp — 1879 — page 428: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration depicts a demonic or devilish figure being physically expelled from rocky terrain, likely representing San Francisco's Chinatown or Chinese presence in California. The horned creature symbolizes the Chinese immigrant population, which were widely portrayed as threatening or evil in 1880s American media. The image supports anti-Chinese sentiment prevalent during this period—Chinese laborers faced intense discrimination, blamed for economic problems and cultural disruption. The violent "expulsion" imagery reflects actual events: California passed discriminatory laws targeting Chinese immigration, culminating in the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. *The Wasp* was known for inflammatory political satire. This cartoon advocates xenophobic policy through dehumanizing caricature, representing mainstream California attitudes of the era.