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United We Win

Poster
1942 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Despite the widespread racial injustices that existed at the time in the United States, this 1942 poster issued jointly by the Office of War Information and the War Manpower Commission promotes racial co-coperation as key to a victorious war effort. Liberman's image shows a black man and a white man working together harmoniously. The straight-forward slogan "United We Win," signals to the viewer that winning the war requires combined efforts from all sections of the society. The simple graphic of the American flag occupying the upper third of the sheet further supports the message of patriotism and participation. Exceptional war propaganda such as this belied many of the harsh realities of segregation faced by African-Americans: though some official images were permitted to promote integration in the workplace, most images showing integrated social activities (particularly of black servicemen and white women) were censored.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleUnited We Win (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour photolithograph
Brief description
Colour photo lithograph by Liberman of black and white factory employees, working together. American flag. OWI poster issued by War Manpower Commission. USA, 1942.
Physical description
Colour photo lithograph of two factory employees, one black, the other white, working together for the war effort.
Dimensions
  • Height: 101.5cm
  • Width: 72.3cm
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Despite the widespread racial injustices that existed at the time in the United States, this 1942 poster issued jointly by the Office of War Information and the War Manpower Commission promotes racial co-coperation as key to a victorious war effort. Liberman's image shows a black man and a white man working together harmoniously. The straight-forward slogan "United We Win," signals to the viewer that winning the war requires combined efforts from all sections of the society. The simple graphic of the American flag occupying the upper third of the sheet further supports the message of patriotism and participation. Exceptional war propaganda such as this belied many of the harsh realities of segregation faced by African-Americans: though some official images were permitted to promote integration in the workplace, most images showing integrated social activities (particularly of black servicemen and white women) were censored.
Bibliographic reference
"The Censored War: American Visual Experience during World War Two" by George H. Roeder, Jr. New Haven & London: Yale University Press. 1993.
Other number
LS.497 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.65-2004

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Record createdOctober 26, 2004
Record URL
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