Racial Stereotype Cartoon

Racial Stereotype Cartoon

United States. Navy--Japan; World War, 1939-1945--Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)

This is a cartoon depicting contemporary attitudes on American servicemen having sex with Japanese women and/or attempting to bring them to the U.S. as wives. The title of the cartoon is "Bon Homme Willie," and the author is listed in the top right corner with a note, "--By Hall." To the left of the cartoon stands a stern man, frowning in profile with hands on his hips and in an officer's hat. He is looking at a young naval serviceman in uniform holding onto a woman in a kimono. The young man has a text bubble above him that says, "But you said yourself I could bring back a souvenir!" The woman is drawn as a racial caricature, reflective of broad American views of Japanese people--and especially women--at the time, recognized now as racist and offensive.

A cartoon referencing U.S. soldiers fraternizing with Japanese women, who are depicted here as racial caricatures.

circa 1945

26

6.25 x 4.75"

Newspaper clipping

CPL-UKLEJA-scrapbook-026-05