At the Mercy of the Deluge, H. Ben Johnson Editorial Cartoon, The Richmond Planet, 1919

“At the Mercy of the Deluge” by artist George H, Ben Johnson was published in the Richmond Planet on July 19, 1919. A mail carrier and an artist, he began publishing editorial cartoons in the Richmond Planet in 1918. His cartoons appeared weekly in 1919 and 1920. Johnson’s work consistently evoked Afro-centric beliefs and ideas and promoted liberty and equality. His artwork appeared in exhibitions around the U.S. and in England. Johnson drew “At the Mercy of the Deluge” during considerable conversation among white southerners about the “migration problem.” His cartoon offered clear answers from a Black perspective.

The Great Migration was the mass movement of African Americans from the rural south to the urban north of the United States. Black Americans sought better economic opportunities and to escape the oppressive political and cultural conditions of the Jim Crow South. This migration began around 1916 and continued into the 1970s.

Throughout the south, state legislatures passed Jim Crow laws to enforce racial segregation. These laws made it difficult for Black men and women to find equal employment opportunities or receive an equal education. They also barred Black Americans from many public places and communities. Jim Crow laws were often enforced through intimidation that ranged from threats of firing to lynching. Additionally, the southern economy was predominantly agricultural, and relegated many African Americans to sharecropping. Sharecropping was an economic system where large landowners rented land in exchange for a large portion of the crops as payment. The sharecropping system kept many southern families, especially Black ones, stuck in a cycle of poverty and debt.

The outbreak of World War I created industrial job opportunities in many northern cities. Factories needed additional workers to meet wartime production demands. Companies began to actively recruit African Americans to migrate and take these jobs, with promises of better wages and living conditions than what they were experiencing in the South. These promises were alluring, and thousands of people made the journey in search of a better life.

The Great Migration affected American society and culture. As African Americans moved north, they formed communities and prompted artistic movements to spread, like jazz. As Black northerners gained political power, their participation in national elections made a difference. Migration also affected the south, where it prompted agricultural laborer shortages. Black Americans’ new-found power was often met with resistance, even in northern cities. Tulsa, Oklahoma, and other cities witnessed racial violence throughout 1919, prompted by violent white reactions against the growth of Black economic and political power.

VS.8, VS.11, USII.5, VUS.10, VUS.12, CE.9

Preview Activity

Think about It: List three things you know about the Jim Crow South.

Post Activities
Form an Opinion: Create a hypothesis about the intent behind the document and how it was used. What was Johnson’s opinion of the southern policies at the time?

Analyze: Look at the editorial cartoon carefully. What are some of the specific issues captured by the artist in "At the Mercy of the Deluge"? Be specific. How effective is Johnson in depicting the problems in the south and the hope of the north?

Artistic Exploration: Create your own political cartoon that addresses a contemporary social or political issue. Explain the symbolism and message behind your cartoon.