Slavery in America lasted for over 250 years. There were two common caricatures that were used as propaganda to maintain the slave trade of Africans. The first was the “sambo” caricature, a lazy child-like character that was incapable of self-sufficiency. The “coon” caricature pictured above, was intentionally idle and disrespectful of authority. The slave master would use stern discipline to keep order over a “coon”. This discipline frequently meant severe beatings as seen below.
The American slave owners were mostly Protestant Christians, who considered themselves to be of good character. Yet a simple fact seemed to elude them, that slaves, rather than being lazy, are not naturally motivated to work hard for no pay and to profit those who deny them freedom. Yet work hard they did in fear of violent assault.
Slavery was abolished in 1864 with the thirteenth amendment. However, reactionary laws were introduced at state level to counteract new freedoms, first with the black codes and then the Jim Crow laws that segregated blacks from whites in all spheres of public life. These laws remained in place until 1964.
