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African dodger

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Carnival game in which people throw things at a black man

A wooden African dodger head used in some versions of the game

African dodger, also known as Hit the Coon or Hit the Nigger Baby, was a carnival game played in the United States. In the game, an African American child would stick his head through a curtain, and attempt to dodge objects, such as eggs or baseballs, thrown at him by players. It was a popular carnival game from the 1880s up to the 1960s. The victims often suffered serious injuries. Smaller kit-based versions of the game were also sold to be played at home.

A Popular Mechanics article from 1910 noted that African dodger had become "too old and commonplace" and was being replaced with dunk tanks in which African Americans would fall into a tank of water when a target was hit with a ball. The illustration accompanying the article shows a game labeled "Drop the Chocolate Drop" and is captioned "Amusing to All but the Victim".

See also

References

  1. ^ "Successor to the "African Dodger"". Popular Mechanics. Vol. 14, no. 5. Hearst Magazines. November 1910. p. 693. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  2. MacGuill, Dan (February 28, 2018). "FACT CHECK: Was a Violently Racist Carnival Game Once Popular in America?". Snopes. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  3. Blacks as Targets. Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. June 11, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via YouTube.
  4. Hughes, Franklin (October 2012). "The African Dodger". Questions for the Museum. Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  5. DeVega, Chauncey (June 12, 2015). "Black men are target practice: America's grotesque history of racist games". Salon.com. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
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