An illustrator, Thomas Worth was one of the best-known artists for the New York lithography firm of Currier and Ives, beginning that association in 1855. Much of his popularity was tied to his comical genre scenes, especially for his Darktown series, which was "overtly racist" (Reed 27) with depictions of African-American figures. Called 'The Darktowns', these drawings that became lithographs were humorous interpretations of nearly every aspect of 'Negro' life: horse racing, watermelon-eating contests, bicycle rides, and banjo playing. These prints attracted a wide following including The Duke of Newcastle from England who, seeing some of the "Darktown" prints in a window of a Currier & Ives sto...