Boy with Watermelon

This catalog is an ongoing project as we continue adding new pieces and researching listed items. If you have any information about an object in this collection, please reach out to us at info@aahafauquier.org

Description:

Bisque figurine in the form of a little black boy. This figure wears a blue jacket over a white top, pink pants, and a straw hat. He sits with crossed legs while holding a slice of watermelon on his lap.

Product Origin:

Japan.

Background:

To learn more about this caricature read "The Picaninny Caricature"

To learn more about the significance of watermelon imagery read "How Watermelon’s Reputation Got Tangled in Racism" and “How Watermelons Became a Racist Trope”

Statement: We understand these objects may inflict offense through their embodiment of racist ideology by depicting stereotypical and discriminatory imagery and language. However, we hope to educate our community and encourage personal reflection through interacting and understanding the historical context of these objects, rather than ignoring them.