Racist images of Major Taylor, and black cyclists, published at various dates

Posted by: andrewritchie | November 26, 2014

Racist images of Major Taylor, and black cyclists, published at various dates

In my previous post, about Major Taylor’s letter to Bearings, published in 1894, I included several cartoons from that time. I’m posting those again here. But in addition, other racist images of him, and of other cycling-related cartoons, published in the United States, France and Australia during his racing career. Needless to say, the nastiness of many of these underlines the social currents of the times and the habitual willingness of the press to use such material. Some do not necessarily refer specifically to Major Taylor.

Fast Black – Cycling Life, 26 April 1894

1st bicycle in Remusville – unknown date – “My King! ef dar ain’t de berry ole Satan hisself, tail an’ all, a-gwine about de kentry a-straddlin’ of a buggy-wheel.”

Ebenezer Smith, Bearings, 23 Feb, 1894

One of the Unattached – LAW Bulletin, 9 Aug 1895

Bearings – 16 Feb. 1894

Bearings 9 Feb. 1894

Bearings, 23 Feb. 1894

San Francisco Examiner, 8 Aug. 1897: Kemble Illustrates the Piccaninny Club Awheel; a Brush with Brack Trash

Three cartoons from Bearings, 1898

France – 1901

La Vie au Grand Air, Paris, 1901. The caption underneath says: “Jacquelin. A souvenir from Thursday 16 May! It’s true that on the 27th the negro got his own back brilliantly in return for being defeated previously, except for the nose-thumbing. But, in fact, this thumb to the nose, wasn’t it perhaps a military salute?” [i.e., because Jacquelin was in the military]. The balloon coming out of Taylor’s mouth says – “He’s bad! He doesn’t want to wait for me.”