Category Archives: Race

Vintage school book illustration Policeman

A Primer on Police and White Privilege

White children learn early on the policeman is your friend. He keeps us safe. It is their truth. But the truth is often skewed, as simplistic  as these vintage school book illustrations. The truth is as simple as black and

Vintage school book illustration Policeman

A Primer on Police and White Privilege

White children learn early on the policeman is your friend. He keeps us safe. It is their truth. But the truth is often skewed, as simplistic  as these vintage school book illustrations. The truth is as simple as black and

Choking on Our Civil Rights

 #ICantBreathe Police brutality-something old, something new, something borrowed….something definitely blue. When can we expect this tragic American tradition to change? …don’t hold your breath!    

Choking on Our Civil Rights

 #ICantBreathe Police brutality-something old, something new, something borrowed….something definitely blue. When can we expect this tragic American tradition to change? …don’t hold your breath!    

vintage illustration Pilgrom and Indian

Pilgrims Progress?

  Racial stereotypes and historical inaccuracies have been as traditional a Thanksgiving fixture as melt in you mouth. candied yams and marshmallow, though nowadays not quite as easy to swallow. American mythology about that first Thanksgiving would have us believe

vintage illustration Pilgrom and Indian

Pilgrims Progress?

  Racial stereotypes and historical inaccuracies have been as traditional a Thanksgiving fixture as melt in you mouth. candied yams and marshmallow, though nowadays not quite as easy to swallow. American mythology about that first Thanksgiving would have us believe

Man expressing fear

Panic Gone Viral

Scarier by far than any Grimm’s Brothers fairy tale, or even an episode of the Twilight Zone, were the stories my grandmother would tell about the time a virulent polio epidemic swept through NYC in 1916. While  war raged over

Man expressing fear

Panic Gone Viral

Scarier by far than any Grimm’s Brothers fairy tale, or even an episode of the Twilight Zone, were the stories my grandmother would tell about the time a virulent polio epidemic swept through NYC in 1916. While  war raged over

Indian Graphic Milton Glaser 1967

Redskins in Heap Big Trouble

Many are on the warpath over the use of the offensive name Redskins. The debate over the Washington football team Redskins name made national television this past week. Not only did South Park dedicate its season premier to skewering the

Indian Graphic Milton Glaser 1967

Redskins in Heap Big Trouble

Many are on the warpath over the use of the offensive name Redskins. The debate over the Washington football team Redskins name made national television this past week. Not only did South Park dedicate its season premier to skewering the

Teddy Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt Empire Builder

America has a long history of flexing our formidable global muscles, confident that our take charge performance, and American ways would be gladly received wherever we went. If the American Century began in earnest in post war America it had

Teddy Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt Empire Builder

America has a long history of flexing our formidable global muscles, confident that our take charge performance, and American ways would be gladly received wherever we went. If the American Century began in earnest in post war America it had

illustration man in hat

Then and Now: Mad Men World of 1969

As Mad Men finishes its bumpy ride through the tumultuous decade of the 1960s it makes an anything but a soft landing in 1969, splashing down in laid back do your own thing California. Riding the wave of advertising’s creative

illustration man in hat

Then and Now: Mad Men World of 1969

As Mad Men finishes its bumpy ride through the tumultuous decade of the 1960s it makes an anything but a soft landing in 1969, splashing down in laid back do your own thing California. Riding the wave of advertising’s creative

vintage illustration chinese chef

The Occidental Oriental

My Mom was one smart cookie…fortune cookie that is. When my mid-century Mom wanted to go exotic..she’d go Oriental and thanks to Chun King canned chow mein it was cantoneasy ! Like many mid-century housewives, when she wanted to add

vintage illustration chinese chef

The Occidental Oriental

My Mom was one smart cookie…fortune cookie that is. When my mid-century Mom wanted to go exotic..she’d go Oriental and thanks to Chun King canned chow mein it was cantoneasy ! Like many mid-century housewives, when she wanted to add

vintage illustration Coke ad serving coke

Coke & American Diversity-It’s the Real Thing

Real America is causing a controversy for some real Americans. Coca Cola’s multilingual Superbowl commercial celebrating American diversity has stirred up xenophobic rage across social media. In the great cultural cauldron of 21st century America there still seems to be

vintage illustration Coke ad serving coke

Coke & American Diversity-It’s the Real Thing

Real America is causing a controversy for some real Americans. Coca Cola’s multilingual Superbowl commercial celebrating American diversity has stirred up xenophobic rage across social media. In the great cultural cauldron of 21st century America there still seems to be

1950s Santa with kids on lap

Dreaming of a White Christmas

50 Shades of Santa The great debate recently about the color of Santa makes me wonder- if that all time Christmas classic  “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” could be written by a Irving Berlin, a Jew, who’s to say

1950s Santa with kids on lap

Dreaming of a White Christmas

50 Shades of Santa The great debate recently about the color of Santa makes me wonder- if that all time Christmas classic  “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” could be written by a Irving Berlin, a Jew, who’s to say