Valentine’s Day cards reflect the cultural context at the time and, in times of racism, cards punned and joked with racial stereotypes. We’ve collected examples featuring American Indians and Asians, here’s our selection of racist cards with Africans and African Americans. Trigger warning for grotesque caricature and violence.
Cards via Hearts Atwirl and Buzzfeed.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 26
Snow/Ice Days: February 11-13 | Mrs. Silverman: Social Studies — February 11, 2014
[…] out these links for Vintage Valentines - and more Vintage Valentines: What do they say about how our culture has changed over […]
Olivia — February 20, 2015
This relates to the current unit because at one point these racist cards were not seen as bad. Now these cards are not socially acceptable and seen as extremely rude.
Kenni — January 19, 2019
I'm 67 years old...and remember these cards from when I was a kid...the only people that sent these to each other were black people themselves...so why does everyone always think everything's "racist" People need to get a life
Carole — February 14, 2019
I find these highly offensive and In light of today’s current climate I really wish you would consider removing them.
Angela — February 14, 2019
Thank you for sharing these. I think it’s important for people to remember the past in order to have a better understanding of the present.
IluvFigs51* — January 22, 2020
'Offended' people - I don't believe you. Stop with the agendas and propaganda. These cards are not racist. And Everyone on the planet is prejudiced about something. It's human nature to judge by some kind of standards, so you can make a decision about someone. You probably are offended by old valentines cards that aren't even made anymore and haven't been for decades, but think it's ok to murder innocent children in the mother's womb. There is still freedom of speech in this country and if you don't like something, why are you looking at it? Move on. It's not a big deal
You do realize divide and conquer is a very effective battle strategy? All this race war stuff, and the pc crap is designed to get people to fight, rather than come together and fight the real enemy- the government, who is taking away our rights and freedoms, which our ancestors fought and died for
Aila — February 12, 2020
The card making a joke about lynching is beyond. That is just like making a joke out of the Nazi death camps. And people’s excuses for not seeing them as racist is very telling as to how much farther as a society we still need to go. Very sad.
Rachael — February 14, 2020
Aila I 100% agree with you! My jaw dropped at the lynching one. It's easy for those of us who are white to claim these are not racist since we were not the butt of the "jokes". These are gross.
Anonymous — February 14, 2020
IluvFigs51 your thoughts are very telling about you as a person and the fact that you call a womens right to chose "killing innocent babies" yet you are unbothered by the depiction of white supremacy and murder of innocent people tells me that your my friend are the real enemy.
Anonymous — July 18, 2020
People, people settle down. As the last comment said was devide n conquer!!! It's happened. Back when these cards were made the black man and white man had a much better sence of humor. Most got along very well. It's humor, sad your offend by it. Hey, Im part Cherokee! Not offended by sports teams with referals towards American Indians. Kind of an honor actually that we are remembered.
Anonymous — July 18, 2020
Heck, Mr. Abdul Jabbar coached a High School basketball team on a Reservation. The team was called The Fighting Whiteys.
Alex Peter — December 4, 2020
The card making a joke about lynching is beyond. That is just like making a joke out of the Nazi death camps. Most got along very well. It's humor, sad your offended by it. Hey, I'm part Cherokee! Not offended by sports teams with referrals towards American Indians.Visit Sparkyreads!
Darius King — January 4, 2021
these comments are the reason why this world is fucked you guys suck! the lynching, the grammar, the way these fuckers are drawn is racist in itself!! the blindness and brainwashing of the generations before me is astonishing... thank you ALIA for saying something right. Alex Peter you are trash. black people don't look like this. or speak lie this. or draw themselves like this.
Marcus — February 10, 2021
Glad these are posted. Not only to remember the NASTY RACIST history we come from but to reveal the ignorant stupidity in this “purely” white racist country. Trump was the DUMBEST racist f*ker we’ve ever had to deal with. Waste of four years. But he sure did expose the racist *ssholes. Darius King... you are correct.
It’s past time for that change.
Christian country my ass... there’s the rub.
Hopefully that starts now with Biden/Harris.
BLM. 🖤
Ulf Ingvar Claesson — February 14, 2021
Ha ha, I love these..
EvExxx — February 15, 2021
"Alex Peter" not only is your narrative absurd, you literally make no sense. You indirectly laude this degenerate undertaking while making the false claim that no one takes the same issue with using "native" people as derogatory caricatures for "professional" sports teams. Part Cherokee...whole @$$ for the flippant babble and gibberish that you're spewing. America is rotting beneath the veneer of it's illusion and you would know this if you were capable of exercising a reasonable level of intelligence. Rest is peace.
EvExxx — February 15, 2021
IluvFigs51* Your ineptness is as astounding as you ability to mimic the thought patterns of human beings. Your remarks are so absurd that I struggle to balance your humanity with the torment that drives you to speak with such a pathology. The ramblings of a authentically pathetic soul.
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I like these pictures. Good sharing. Keep it up.
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Skye — January 20, 2022
While some of these are offensive, a couple of them are actually really cute. And I mean in a good way. My favorite is the last one.
stephanie Courtney — February 14, 2022
Take this down!!!!!!!! How dare you put these up it's offensive and in this day and age this should not be up. How can the 64+ year old lady comment on this we are in fucking 2021.We don't want our children looking at this. I'm mixrace and do not tolerate racism to any race. And this is blatantly racism
Anonymous — February 14, 2022
There great
DONNA MARKS — February 15, 2022
I agree the images not good, I doubt that many African Americans or other blacks around the world would appreciate the "humour" in this media or would have sent them to one another. To me, these images are an example of how blacks were regarded at that time. I am quite old now and only just starting to take some time out to learn how blacks were perceived and mistreated.
Jarkom — March 9, 2022
After hearing some landscape night feels with this sample. I got inspired by Labkom99. thanks for sharing these, they are so beautiful.
bussyslayer — February 14, 2023
eat shit carole
Pam — March 27, 2023
I think it’s funny how people bitch about something when they didn’t even have to look at the pics I think it’s great I love are history and how far we’ve actually have came it’s only offensive if are looking for a reason it’s part of history it s what it is get over it all ready