Racialized Ivory Soap Ad from 1889

I came across this very offensive ad yesterday in the course of microfilm research. It’s from the Daily Argus Leader and was published in 1889.

dreamsinger May 9, 2012 / 3:27 pm

Speechless
Phraustie May 9, 2012 / 3:30 pm

That’s pretty blatant. If I had one more hand, I’d give it 3 thumbs down!
Michael Mack May 10, 2012 / 1:34 pm

Keep in mind that time period – 1889 – white Americans were patting themselves on the back for deciding that the “savages” were worth saving. At that time, “including” us, in our “savage” as part of the American experience, they regarded as benevolent and very Christian.
Not that much has inherently changed in their core thinking about us – most non-Indian Americans are now simply more “politically correct”.

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