A man in Virginia discovered a racist greeting card dating back to 1938 hidden inside a box of blank cards he purchased at a Goodwill store. The man, Luke Cerutti, was shocked to find the offensive card at the bottom of the stack, featuring a racist caricature of a Black child. The language alongside the image played into harmful stereotypes of that period. The card was printed by Hallmark in 1938, and Cerutti was stunned by the heavy history it carried.
Aside from the racist card, Cerutti also found a handwritten note from someone named Mattie to a friend named Viola. The note sounded warm and well-intentioned, expressing sympathy for Viola’s hospitalization and promising to visit soon. However, it ended with a statement from Mattie that she found the card cute, passing it on to Viola. Cerutti noted that this simple statement reflected how normalized this kind of imagery was at that time, despite it being offensive and dehumanizing by today’s standards.
The discovery of the racist card was particularly poignant for Cerutti, who had recently visited the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The card served as a reminder of the nation’s painful history with racism and highlighted how such objects can hold significant historical weight. James Herrera-Brookes, an expert from the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, explained that racist imagery like the one on the card was once prevalent in popular culture and consumer goods, dating back to the early 19th century.
In an effort to engage in meaningful dialogue and confront the legacy of racism in American culture, Cerutti shared images of the card on social media. His post on Reddit garnered over 8 million views and thousands of comments in just a few days. Cerutti emphasized the importance of acknowledging history like this to learn from the past and move towards a more just future. He believes that confronting painful truths from the past can inspire positive change and lead to meaningful conversations that drive progress.
Cerutti plans to donate the card to a museum or college, recognizing its historical significance. The Virginia Museum of History & Culture, where experts encourage the preservation and presentation of historical materials in their original state, supports this move. By donating the card, Cerutti hopes to contribute to scholarship and interpretation of history, ensuring that the full, complex story of Virginia and the nation is told. The discovery of the racist card was a stark reminder of America’s past and the work that remains in confronting racism in society.
