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A coon alphabet (J)
A coon alphabet (J)
TitleA coon alphabet (J)
AuthorKemble, E.W. (Edward Windsor), 1861-1933
PublisherRussell, R.H.
Publisher LocationUnited States -- New York -- New York
Publication Date1898
Image Production ProcessPlanographic prints--lithographs
NotesIllustrated with uncolored lithographic prints.
An alphabet book with rhymes written in imitation of southern Black English of the 19th century and illustrations that portray blacks in negative stereotypical roles. At the end of each rhyme, the black person usually ends up being hurt somehow, either due to their insinuated stupidity, malice or laziness.
"J is fo[r] Joseph, a wicked young lad, he fooled wid [with] his brudder [brother]--and made his Ma mad." The first illustration depicts a woman washing clothes in a tub. In front of her, a very young boy holds onto a rocket while another young boy lights the rocket's fuse with a cigar held in his mouth. The second illustration (not shown) depicts the woman sitting in the wash tub, soaking wet, and shaking the young boy. In the background, the very young boy is flying through the air, still holding onto the rocket.
Contextual NotesRight after the Civil War, books were published that attempted to refute the "immorality" of slavery. While some of these books purported to document the kind and reasonable treatment of slaves in the South, others, such as this book, portrayed blacks as deserving of their ill-treatment. All of these books relied on racial stereotypes. Racial stereotypes persisted in the United States long after the Civil War and these children's books were also especially popular in England. At about this same time, silent movies were showing white actors in blackface and featuring minstrel shows.
Edward Windsor Kemble was a self-taught artist well-known for his cartoons of soldiers, Indians, and blacks in publications such as Harper's, Century, and Leslie's.
Subjects (LCSH)African Americans -- Southern States -- Caricatures and cartoons
CategoryDiscrimination and bigotry
Alphabet books
Digital CollectionChildren's Historical Literature Collection
Digital ID NumberCHL1122
RepositoryUniversity of Washington Libraries, Special Collections Division
Repository CollectionChildren's Historical Literature Collection. NC1429.K4 C66 1898
Object TypeBook
Physical Description[56] leaves: illustrated; 27.5 x 20.5 cm.
Exhibit ChecklistExhibit checklist L.142