African, from Types of Nationalities (N240) issued by Kinney Bros. 1890

This is a promotional card, made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, part of their "Types of Nationalities" series. Note the striking and loaded imagery. The man, identified as African, is depicted with a severed head in one hand and a bloody blade in the other. These symbols immediately conjure associations with savagery and barbarism, reflecting deeply ingrained cultural prejudices of the time. The Western perception of the Other surfaces. The act of beheading and cannibalism have appeared throughout history across various cultures, often associated with rituals of power, dominance, and the appropriation of an enemy’s strength. From ancient Mesoamerican cultures to certain tribes in Borneo, the head has been a symbol of vitality and spirit. This appropriation, steeped in a primal fear and fascination with death, speaks to the human psyche's complex relationship with mortality and power. This image, however, uses these symbols to perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Through this card, the viewer engages with the collective memory of fear and the unknown, reinforcing discriminatory narratives about African people.