From the xenophobia of World War II propaganda to the perpetuation of racist stereotypes, these posters were distributed in shockingly recent times.
America is no stranger to propaganda posters, flyers, or cartoons.
From official propaganda created by the government during war, to posters from extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan, to casual displays of racism and sexism, there are many examples of hateful, offensive, and straight-up disturbing posters and flyers from modern American history.
Take a look at some of the most chilling propaganda posters and political flyers from America’s not-so-distant past in the gallery below.
America Produced A Lot Of World War II Propaganda — Especially Against The Japanese
It's no secret that during wartime, governments tend to ramp up their propaganda. There are many examples of famous American propaganda pieces that stem from warfare, like the iconic Uncle Sam "I Want You For U.S. Army" poster and the "We Can Do It!" Rosie the Riveter poster.
National ArchivesThis enlistment poster produced by the U.S. government is a famous example of military propaganda.
However, among the pile of encouraging, empowering, and patriotic wartime propaganda posters are some darker creations.
After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941, officially thrusting the United States into World War II, fears that the Japanese would attack America again were high. Just over two months after Pearl Harbor, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066.
This order forced any "enemy aliens" to be removed from ill-defined military areas. In this case, it meant that anyone living on the West Coast with Japanese roots could be forced to live in an internment camp.
The order tapped into existing racism and prejudice against Japanese Americans and other Asian Americans, especially along the West Coast. While other groups like German Americans and Italian Americans were also impacted by the order, Japanese Americans were targeted the most often.
National ArchivesOne example of American World War II propaganda, featuring a caricature of Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo with Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
As the U.S. war machine reignited again, years after the end of World War I, so too did its propaganda machine. The growing racism against the Japanese made for propaganda posters that often utilized racial caricatures.
This often included drawings of Japanese officials and soldiers with dramatized, exaggerated features. These posters would utilize characters like Tokio Kid, a caricature of a Japanese man, as well as illustrations of Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who was sometimes depicted alongside Adolf Hitler or drawn wearing a Nazi swastika.
The Disturbing And Racist Propaganda Posters Created By The KKK And Others
Along with a history of racist wartime propaganda, other forms of hateful posters and political flyers were persistent throughout the 20th century. The infamous white supremacist group Ku Klux Klan (KKK) often used stark racist imagery to advertise and advocate for their extremist politics.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the KKK was originally a short-lived organization created by white supremacists after the Civil War. But after the release of D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation, the group was revitalized and its numbers quickly grew. The KKK often used flyers and pamphlets to increase their membership.
Wikimedia CommonsThis 1915 film glorified the KKK and led to a renewed interest in the organization.
But KKK members weren't the only ones spreading disturbing anti-Black propaganda posters, pamphlets, and cartoons. Throughout the Jim Crow era, Black caricatures, including the use of blackface, were common.
The Jim Crow Museum has a number of exhibits and online collections that address the casual use of racism in depictions of Black people.
Common traits include exaggerated facial features, such as large red lips, very dark skin, and dramatic expressions. These cartoons would also utilize different caricatures, such as the "brute" or "coon" stereotypes.
These harmful depictions of Black people are not a thing of ancient history, as many of these flyers and cartoons are less than 100 years old.
America's Long History Of Fear-Mongering Political Flyers
Other types of disturbing political flyers include those that stoke fear about different political movements or ideologies.
One example is the political cartoons drawn by those against women's suffrage. According to the National Park Service, some anti-suffrage postcards depicted women doing tasks associated with men to mock them. Others depicted women who supported suffrage as monsters.
Wikimedia CommonsSuffragists protesting for the right to vote in 1917.
Later political flyers from the 20th century capitalized on the Red Scare, using fear-mongering about the spread of communism to get what they wanted. For example, the group Mothers' Crusade for Victory Over Communism created flyers implying that if people didn't support them, they would be helping communists kill Americans instead.
Other flyers concerning the issue of gun rights stoked fears about introducing any more restrictive gun legislation, spreading anxiety that the government would take away guns that belonged to law-abiding citizens, leaving them with no way to defend their families against criminals.
From racism, to sexism, to xenophobia, to fear-mongering over different political views, America today is not too far removed from the disturbing propaganda posters and political flyers of its past.
Next, take a look at Soviet propaganda posters from the Cold War. Then, see some of the most vile Nazi propaganda posters.
