History Marches On; Nativism Marches In Place

October 9th, 2008 Barry Posted in Barry's favorites, History, Immigration, Racism & Racists | Comments Off on History Marches On; Nativism Marches In Place

TRANSCRIPT OF CARTOON

This cartoon has four panels, with a caption running under the entire cartoon.

PANEL 1

A white man dressed in upper-class American Revolution era clothing punches his fist into his open palm as he angrily makes a point. He is balding on top, with the rest of his hair pulled back into a short ponytail. (I intended this to be a caricature of founding father John Jay, but it’s not an especially good one!)

CAPTION: 1780

MAN: Papist immigrants are wrecking our economy with their fecundity! We must erect a wall of brass around the country for the exclusion of Catholics!

Footnote: (“Wall of Brass…” is quoted from John Jay, the first chief justice of the Supreme Court.)

PANEL 2

A wealthy-looking white man in 1850s clothing, sitting in an armchair, looks very snooty as he holds up a forefinger, making a point. He has a newspaper held in his lap by the other hand, and a teacup on a little round table next to the armchair.

CAPTION: 1850

MAN: Chinese immigrants refuse to assimilate… and if we let too many in, they’ll undermine our economy!

PANEL 3

A white man in a dull green 1920s suit and hat talks cheerfully, looking straight at the viewer, “talking with his hands.” There’s a house and a tree behind him.

CAPTION: 1920

MAN: Now, I’ve not nothing against Jews…. but the Jews are coming in huge numbers! The economy can’t take it!

PANEL 4

A modern-looking family – a white man, white woman, and their small child – are standing inside what’s probably their house. The man is pounding his fist into his palm as he angrily speaks. The woman has her arms crossed. The child, holding a teddy bear, looks curiously up at her mom.

CAPTION: NOW

MAN: We’ve got nothing against Mexicans. But they refuse to assimilate! They’re ruining our economy!

WOMAN: We should erect a wall.

GOING ACROSS THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE STRIP

CAPTION: History Marches On; Nativism Marches In Place