From Exclusion to Inclusion : -- A Shift in the Perception of Native and Asian Americans through Graphic Stories: A Comparison of Political Cartoons from the 1800s to Trickster, American Born Chinese, and Level Up

Abstract

By comparing political cartoons from the late 1800s to graphic novels published in the 21st century, one can trace the changes in social acceptance of Native and Asian Americans and examine the role tricksters hold in overcoming stereotypes and encouraging these cultural groups to rise above being othered by society through teaching morals. Political cartoons that are used in this comparison include Thomas Nast's "Move On!," "Making White Men Good," "Celestial," and "Uncle Sam's Thanksgiving Dinner" that show some people during the late 1800s believed in equality for all cultural groups but failed by including excessive visual labels that othered Native and Asian Americans. Works such as "The Right Way to Dispose of Sitting Bull and His Braves," published in The Daily Graphic, and George Frederick Keller's "A Statue For Our Harbor" include racist views of Native and Asian Americans and were used to incite fear and hatred of these groups. Categorized by cultural emphasis, these political cartoons are paired with one of three graphic novels: Trickster: Native American Tales A Graphic Collection edited by Matt Dembicki, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, and Level Up by Gene Luen Yang and illustrator Thien Pham. These three books introduce trickster figures as characters that represent cultural ideals, teach important morals, and assist with overcoming stereotypes strongly portrayed in late 1800s political cartoons.