"The Vampire that Hovers Over North Carolina (Negro Rule)," News and Observer, September 27, 1898

"The Vampire that Hovers Over North Carolina (Negro Rule)," News and Observer, September 27, 1898

This 1898 cartoon by Norman Jennet depicts an African-American vampire terrorizing a group of white men and women. The dominant theme of the image is the idea that African-American political power poses a grave danger to white society. This concept is depicted through both the ballot box on which the vampire is standing and the slogan "Negro Rule," written on the vampire's wings. It is nearly identical in content and style to another cartoon “Negro Rule" which was printed in the News and Observer on July 4, 1900. The similarity between the cartoons is perhaps not suprising as white supremacist ideology was a central aspect of the Democratic platform during both the 1898 and 1900 campaigns. In fact, a number of cartoons and editorials depicting this idea were printed in the News and Observer during both years.

Norman Ethre Jennett

Norman Ethre Jennett, "The Vampire that Hovers Over North Carolina," News and Observer, September 27, 1898, The North Carolina Election of 1898, North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/1898/sources/cartoons/0927.html (accessed April 16, 2012).

1898-09-27

Erin Glant

Document

Raleigh, North Carolina

Wake County, North Carolina

Cartoon

Negro Rule

The Vampire That Hovers Over North Carolina