1933 Popeye Blackface cartoon showing the popular, brutal American carnival game, African Dodger, where white people tried to throw actual baseballs at Black people’s faces.
In 1911, Ty Cobb’s participation in the African Dodger carnival game drew praise in the Washington Times after he struck a Black victim multiple times with a baseball. This “amused” the sports columnist. 
Disney’s Donald Duck and other comics strips were shown participating in the popular American carnival game, African Dodger.
An actual “African Dodger” baseball that was used to play the brutal game of hitting Black people’s faces at carnivals.
African Dodger was so popular in America, that a children’s toy version was made for kids to play at home.
The African Dodger children’s toy read:
“Hit the Dodger! Knock Him Out!
Every time you hit Sambo the bell rings.”
“Hit the Dodger! Knock Him Out!
Every time you hit Sambo the bell rings.”
The African Dodger game was also called “Hit the N*gger” and “Hit the N*gger Baby.”
Dr. Seuss used the African Dodger game for NBC radio’s “vital spots” campaign to sell advertising time.
Note the message above the Blackface character:
“On the button & you get a cigar.”
“On the button & you get a cigar.”
A church in Pittsburg set up an African Dodger game. An unnamed amateur pitcher struck “John James, a negro” with a baseball resulting in a “loud crack” and an injured eye.
In 1915, a New York State bill intended to ban the African Dodger game.
The column argues hitting “Ethiopians” in the head with baseballs is “a cheap and simple pleasure” and banning it will result in unemployment for the dodger who had “no more profitable use for their head.”
The column argues hitting “Ethiopians” in the head with baseballs is “a cheap and simple pleasure” and banning it will result in unemployment for the dodger who had “no more profitable use for their head.”
Those who defended the African Dodger game claimed, “the negro has a very heavy and massive cranium constituting a bony arch of great resisting power.”
A 1893 Bloomingdales department store ad featured a kids “African Dodger” game as “one of the hottest new toys of the season.”
The game resulting in lost teeth, brain injury, and death. In Hanover, PA (1908) some participants brought heavier balls to throw which resulted in fatal injuries.
In 1913, there was a rumor that pitcher Walter Johnson was at a St. Louis fair which made it hard for the African Dodger operator to find someone to hire.
A 1924 employment ad for an “African Dodger” pledges a speedy hospital visit if needed and cites two previous deaths.
The game was popular into the 1930’s and was stilled played in some areas decades later.
As the laws changed to stop this, the real life dodgers were replaced racist dolls.
As the laws changed to stop this, the real life dodgers were replaced racist dolls.
Ernie Bushmiller’s Nancy comic strip depicting an African Dodger carnival game.
An African Dodger postcard...
The African Dodger game morphed into the modern day dunk tank. Instead of humiliating a Black person by hitting them with baseballs, one could throw a baseball to plunge one into water.
Popular Mechanics praised the improvement at a Chicago amusement park.
Popular Mechanics praised the improvement at a Chicago amusement park.
Photos of dunking booths at the The State Fair of Texas in 1946 and 1965.
The booths were sometimes called African Dip and would contain jungle and alligator themes.
The booths were sometimes called African Dip and would contain jungle and alligator themes.
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