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

This small lithograph, "American Indian," was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of their "Types of Nationalities" series. These cards, distributed with tobacco products, reflect the late 19th-century American impulse to categorize and, in many ways, diminish diverse cultures. The image and accompanying limerick exemplify the era's racist caricatures of Native Americans. It links the historically rich and varied identities of Indigenous peoples to a single, demeaning stereotype: a savage warrior, perpetually on the warpath. This prejudiced view was pervasive in a time when government policies actively worked to dispossess Native Americans of their lands and assimilate them into white culture. Consider how the commercial nature of this image normalizes harmful stereotypes. It served to reinforce the dehumanization of an entire group of people, contributing to a legacy of injustice that continues to affect Native American communities today.