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The Mechanics Of Racism: Mechanical Toy Catalog From 1882

The Automatic Toy Works company manufacturers of "novelties" in New York City produced a catalog of their latest mechanical wonders, in 1882. The pages of the catalog show off the cutting edge of high tech toys of the time, but also reveals the racism and bigotry that considered acceptable in the United States of the late 19th century. In the scant 19 page catalog, and 16 mechanical figures, the makers manage to squeeze in 10 examples of racial stereotyping and out-right mocking racism in toy form. Mostly aimed at African-Americans, with a couple of Chinese and an Italian thrown in for good measure. By the very nature that they are toys, pieces of entertainment, designed as the descriptions say, for comedy value and fun they are not subtle in their mockery and caricaturing. They mock the figure of Uncle Tom, African-American preachers, they show women in servile positions. And in one instance mock the suffragette movement, with a black Women's Right Advocate ranting at the lectern, while homely white women are shown at the sewing machine, and rocking the cradle.
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