Black People Should Patriotically Eliminate Themselves: “Put Patriotism to the Test” Cartoon

Helg, Aline, “Our Rightful Share: The Afro-Cuban Struggle for Equality, 1886-1912”, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1995, p. 236 (Figure C-7).  [Source]

Translation:  Want to make a patriotic sacrifice?  Inoculate yourself with the Bubonic [Plague] and join Ivonet!
PatriotismToTheTestText accompanying this cartoon from the source link:

Using Bubonic Plague to remove black people: an example of negative eugenics

The cartoon at left, entitled “Patriotism Put to the Test”, appeared in La Discusion on July 6, 1912. The white man recommends that as the ultimate patriotic sacrifice, peaceful blacks should inoculate themselves with the bubonic plague then rampant in Havana, and join the followers of Ivonnet. It implies that as a result, Afro-Cubans would disappear altogether. (Bibliotecca Nacional “José Martí”) 5

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.