May 2, 2010 · Have you ever been offended by lantern-holding jockeys found situated on lawns throughout the suburbs, thinking they’re racist? Most have lumped the statue, known as Jocko, in with the mammy...

After the second "Jocko" groomsman came the "Lawn Jockey" version of the statue, which was based on the Faithful Groomsman caricature, originally depicted in black-face, but as an adult and configured as a "horse racing jockey".

The earlier "Jocko" design usually depicts the right arm raised, and was styled as a racist caricature of a young black boy, often with exaggerated features, such as big eyes with the whites painted in; large lips painted red; a large, flat nose and curly hair.

The lawn jockey is a decorative yard ornament that caricatures black people and promotes the idea of their servitude. Typically a cast replica about half-scale, it depicts a black man dressed in jockey's clothing carrying a lantern or a metal ring suitable for hitching a horse.

May 13, 2011 · "Jocko" as it came to be known was a caricature version of "The Faithful Groomsman." This version was never copyrighted or patented. (This one is a reproduction. I prefer the older Jocko statues). 

Feb 17, 2016 · The black paint, big red painted lips, and big white eyes of these caricature lawn jockeys appear to be nothing more than racist lawn ornaments. But is there more than meets the eye? The offensive stereotypical African American statues aren't the only kinds of lawn jockey.

The story goes that Jocko Graves was a young African American boy who served George Washington during the Revolutionary War period. Washington planned to cross the Delaware River into Trenton, New Jersey, for a surprise attack on British troops.

this is jocko, an antique original caricature version of the 1860 "faithful groomsman". all original paint, heavy cast iron weighing 5 3/4 lbs.....unwashed, untouched. he is 11" tall and just wonderfu...from

Feb 8, 1998 · Though sightings are pretty infrequent today, the yard ornaments that portray blacks in subservient roles have the power to gnaw insatiably at the spirit of African-Americans and to disgust others...

Mar 31, 2025 · Vintage antique cast iron Black Jocko lawn jockey with base and horse hitch ring in right hand. This is an original Jocko/Faithful Groomsman 1860 Caricature version with red, white and yellow color scheme, jockey cap, picaninny face, wedding groom outfit, hand in pocket and square pedestal. .