Military service, especially in battle, was
often seen as a rite of passage that turned boys
into men. Physical scarring or maiming served as
the visible symbol of manhood tested and earned
through combat. The message of this cartoon,
appearing at the end of the Civil War, is that
white and black Union soldiers have made the same
sacrifice and are equal in their manhood. It can
be inferred that, for the artist, the equality of
manhood would encompass the economic right to work
as free men and to provide for their families. The
artist’s intent on the more difficult questions
of political and social equality is uncertain.
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