say it with pie

"Spiggoty" women of Panama.

There is nothing that fascinates me more than the blatant racism of my crusty Anglo forefathers, so finding this link on MeFi the other day was like hitting the mother lode.

The Secret Museum of Mankind was published in 1935 and is essentially an encyclopedia of "primitive" peoples from around the globe. Some of the captions that go along with the photographs are pretty astounding. Did you know that Mexicans "are born gamblers" and that their ability to endure pain and fatigue might make them into a fine army, "with good training and leading"? Now you do.

Of course, this "academic study" is really just a thinly-veiled collection of titty-pictures that sexualize the exotic "other." At least half of the photographs are of ethnic women from around the globe, and most of the commentary revolves around how these "belles" adorn themselves. The author criticizes women who adopt European dress, preferring those who wear traditional costumes so that they don't lose their "native picturesqueness." While the photographs illustrate that women come in all shapes and colours, they are always depicted as vain, no matter what their race.

I've included a small collection of photographs of women from the Secret Museum behind the cut. As the book is 500+ pages, I haven't yet read past Volume 4, so my apologies go out to the women of Oceania. And all of the women in the Secret Museum, actually.

"SCHOOLGIRL FROM THE AMAZON DISTRICTt:
This is no painted Indian "belle," but rather a somewhat timid type of "flapper." She has adopted European clothes with town life, but cannot renounce the brightly-coloured beads and quaint ear-charms of her tribe."

"WOMAN OF THE PEOPLE OF MARTINIQUE
Although a full-blooded negress she is undeniably "chic," a fact due perhaps to association with French colonists and to the vivid colouring of her costume which is so becoming to her dusky skin."

"DARK-EYED DAUGHTER OF LATIN AMERICA
The houses of the Spanish population of Carácas are usually built in similar fashion to those in their Mother Country. The windows are barred, and a private patio, or court, affords a delightful rendezvous for family gatherings."

"A DANGEROUS BEAUTY IN SULLEN MOOD
She has stood, until weary of attracting attention, by a wall in Biskra, this geisha of the Sahara, with her hard-won dowry of gold and silver adorning her person. She can sing Arab love-songs, play flute, hautboy, and zither, and dance more seductively than girls of any other tribe. Her skill in making cigarettes and coffee is famous, and all her charms and accomplishments are for hire."

"PROUD MASCULINE MOTHER OF FIGHTING MEN
Poised in her doorway in festival attire, this masterful woman of the once forbidden Somali city of Harrar is a blend of warlike invaders. Somalis and Gallas, Beduins, with Egyptians and Abyssinians, fought and mingled. An old slander runs that at times, when meat is unobtainable, the Harrar woman will eat children."

"TAR-BRUSHES THAT BLACKEN OLD BARBARY
This young negro mother and her picaninny are weapons of destiny. Negress slaves in the harem have changed the former governing Arab stock into weak-minded blackamoors. The pure-blooded Arab is becoming increasing scarce in Algeria."

"FRANKNESS AND FREEDOM AMONG SEMI-CIVILIZED LARISTAN NOMADS
Health and vigour envelop the women of these untamed tribes, who boldly face the world, the picture of jaunty independence. Their refined and carefully-guarded sisters despise them for thus openly showing their features, but these wanderers know nothing of the discontent so prevalent among the Persian women cloistered in silken seclusion, and to them freedom is the keynote of their existence."

"LAOTIAN GIRL IN HER TEENS
Like most of her people she is inclined to be lazy and fond of gossip, but she is devoted to music and flowers. The silken scarf across her shoulder is her pride, and must match exactly the bright hue of the petticoat."