African dodger

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.[1] Despite the obvious brutality of hitting someone in the head, it was a popular carnival game from the 1880s up to the 1960s.[2][3] The victims often suffered serious injuries.[4][5] Smaller kit-based versions of the game were also sold to be played at home.

Example of the game
Children playing "Hit The Nigger Baby" at YMCA summer camp, Camp Minikani in 1942

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".[6]

African dodger has been depicted in comic strips and cartoons, including Donald Duck and Popeye.[7]

Kurt Vonnegut describes the game in his 1973 novel Breakfast of Champions.

Norman Maclean remembers the game in his 1976 novel A River Runs Through It.

Billy Woods describes the brutality of the game in his 2015 song “African Dodger”.

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. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  6. "Successor to the "African Dodger"". Popular Mechanics. Vol. 14, no. 5. Hearst Magazines. November 1910. p. 693. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  7. Dewey, Pamela Starr (January 10, 2016). "The African Dodger". AmeriPics. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via WordPress.
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