Captain Condent, Shooting the Indian, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1886 - 1891

This is a cigarette card titled 'Captain Condent, Shooting the Indian,' produced by Allen & Ginter, as part of the 'Pirates of the Spanish Main' series. These cards were small inserts in cigarette packs, popular in the late 19th century, which served as advertisements and collectibles. This card reflects the complex intersection of race, class, and colonial power during this historical period. The card presents a romanticized and heroic view of piracy, while simultaneously depicting violence against Indigenous people. Representations such as these were used to justify colonial expansion and reinforce existing racial hierarchies. Captain Condent, is valorized, while the Indigenous person is dehumanized and portrayed as a nameless victim. What narratives are being perpetuated here, and whose voices are left unheard? Whose stories of survival and resistance are erased by such depictions? These cards served as cultural artifacts that reflect and reinforce dominant ideologies. This image reminds us to critically examine the stories we tell about history.