Page 126, A Senior Her-Book

Dublin Core

Title

Page 126, A Senior Her-Book
The Tower 1920
Detail caricature and dialogue at top left-corner

Description

The character that is drawn on the top-left corner of the "Senior-Her Book" is a representation of a black woman working as a maid. This drawing of the black woman is drawn in a "blackface" manner based on her facial features, which highlight the eyes and mouth by using white colors, while the rest of the face and body are still completely black. The pictures signifies a stereotypical, white view of blacks. The dialogue below the character reads:

"E. (returning to her room and seeing maid trying on her frat pin): 'Why Ophelia, what are you doing?'"
"Ophelia (very black): 'Don' say nuthin' to me, Mis' Lisbeth. I'se just so fond of fraternity jewelry.'"

The author writes that Ophelia, the maid, speaks in a "very black" manner and in her dialogue she comes off to be less educated.

Source

Virginia Baptist Historical Society
Richmond, VA

Date

1920

Contributor

Scott Shim

Format

Type

Files

11010326-TheTower_1920_126.jpg

Collection

Citation

Mary Bernard Guest, “Page 126, A Senior Her-Book,” University of Richmond Race & Racism Project, accessed November 11, 2024, https://memory.richmond.edu/items/show/48.