Topic 7: Portrayals of CR in visual imagery 1850-80

Question 1

in what way were BA mostly portrayed through visual imagery in the late 19th century?

Answer 1

after emancipation in 1865 and the 13th Amendment in, portrayals of BA were mostly demeaning

Question 2

why were visual portrayals of BA mostly demeaning post 1865?

Answer 2

• WA felt more threatened by BA ow that they didn’t exercise as much control over them
• displayed white fears of mixed race sexual relationships and black male violence

Question 3

in what ways was visual imagery of BA ‘demeaning’?

Answer 3

• BAs characterised as unintelligent, idle, and unable to thrive without white guidance such as the Freedmen’s Bureau
• glorified the ‘good old days’ of slavery- showed BAs as contented

Question 4

when did visual imagery showing BAs as suffering slaves or empowered patriots disappear?

Answer 4

after 1865

Question 5

what is an example of somewhere where many images of BA were published?

Answer 5

Harper’s Weekly (political magazine)

Question 6

evidence that images of BA changed attitudes towards BA?

Answer 6

• lithographs published in Harper’s Weekly had v wide readership, and so likely had a role in shaping and changing some attitudes
• photographs showing the horrors of slavery and patriotism of BA soldiers in CW also powerful - likely had some role in changing attitudes to be more sympathetic to BAs, or at least anti-slavery

Question 7

evidence that imaged of BA reflected attitudes towards BA?

Answer 7

• Harper’s Weekly published contradictory views of BA - shows that it perhaps reflected the caried attitudes to BA at the time
• photographs showing horrors of slavery greatly decreased post- 1865 - less opportunity to change the attitudes of white southerners, more content that reinforced racist stereotypes - REFLECT

Question 8

other than visual imagery, what other kind of content reflected and reinforced racist stereotypes of BA post-1865?

Answer 8

minstrel shows - showed BA to be unintelligent, idle, superstitious and carefree. popular in to the 20th century. black characters played by white men in blackface

Question 9

what were the main forms of visual imagery 1850-1910?

Answer 9

• paintings
• lithographs
• photographs

Question 10

how impactful were visual images on the American general public compared to the written word?

Answer 10

more striking impact

Question 11

stat for readership of Harper’s weekly?

Answer 11

• circulation of 200,000 by 1960
• most widely read journal in the US during the Civil War period