The Hypocrisy of Anti-Fascist Propaganda: American Democracy and Racial Discrimination, 1934-1940
Overview
This essay examines anti-fascist propaganda used by American media between 1934-1940, arguing that while the messaging promoted democracy and freedom, the United States government simultaneously discriminated against African Americans, including preventing them from military service. The paper contends that this contradiction reveals fundamental hypocrisy in America's opposition to fascism abroad while tolerating systemic racism at home.
What this essay covers
- Introduction and thesis on the ironic nature of anti-fascist propaganda given domestic racial discrimination
- Definition and aspects of fascism, including racial superiority ideology and totalitarianism exemplified by Hitler and Mussolini
- Analysis of present-day perspective on 1930-1946 period and effectiveness of anti-fascist messaging in mobilizing American public opinion
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Article of Anti-Facist Propaganda 1934-1940
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Article of Anti-Facist Propaganda 1934-1940
The propaganda artifact that was being used by different media houses was meant to bring the American people together. However, the artifact was very different from the actual course and outcome of the war. The artifact was meant to bring in the spirit of democracy and freedom (Stout, 2020). The truth, however, was that African Americans were treated differently back home. Their wages have not improved much 50 years later (Moss, Lazonick, & Weitz, 2020). Although the US government was pushing for the fall of Mussolini and other fascist governments, the US could not allow African Americans to fly military planes. After coming back from the war, the African Americans continued being discriminated against. Therefore, the artifact, though progressive, was ironic because the people who claimed to hate fascism were discriminating against the minorities in their country. Although the anti-fascist propaganda was effective, the United States was hypocritical because they discriminated against the minority in their country.
Fascism
The anti-fascism propaganda that was being fought against in the banners was the one that had gained roots in Spain. People were against the belief that there was one race that was superior to the other. There was a need to protect the minority communities who were living in a fascist regime.