Governor Seay, Alabama, from "Governors, Arms, Etc." series (N133-2), issued by Duke Sons & Co. 1885 - 1892

This colorful lithograph was published by W. Duke, Sons & Co. between 1870 and 1920 as part of a series of tobacco cards called "Governors, Arms, Etc." These cards, which were included in cigarette packs, were designed to promote brand loyalty, but also reflected the social and economic realities of the time. This card features Governor Seay of Alabama, flanked by images of the state's coat of arms and what is labeled as "Cotton - Her Principal Industry". A Black man is depicted laboring under the weight of a huge harvest. The visual juxtaposition of Governor Seay with the image of enslaved labor is a stark reminder of the racial and economic inequalities that defined the post-Reconstruction South. It presents a narrative that normalizes exploitation of the labor of Black people. The card’s attempt to celebrate the state's emblems reveals uncomfortable truths about the historical context in which it was produced.