Race and Ethnicity in Advertising

African American Cosmetic Labels, 1934-1946 and undated

Collection comprises 50 labels from cosmetics intended for African American consumers by the Chicago-based companies Famous Products, Madame Jones, and Valmor Products.  The collection includes labels for skin cream, hair dressing products, scented lotions and oils, talcum and face powder, after shave, and incense.  Brand names represented include Madame Jones, Lucky Brown, and Sweet Georgia Brown.  The labels feature images of light-skinned men and women with stratighted hair, and label copy often focused on attracting members of the opposite sex.

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