Featured image from PICRYL.
This is a picture of the Tuskegee Airmen, which was a segregated Air Force unit consisting of African American fighter and bomber pilots. The Tuskegee Airmen were deployed many times in overseas combat missions. In and outside of the military, the Tuskegee Airmen experienced discrimination, despite their service.
Image 1: Anti-Japanese Propaganda
Context: Official U.S. Army propaganda poster that was circulated between 1941 and 1945. On the poster, you can see an official U.S. military seal, as well as a “little” Japanese soldier who pales in comparison to the “big job” text.
Image 2: Japanese American Soldiers
Context: Despite widespread demonization and internment, thousands of Japanese Americans had the “opportunity” to fight for the United States during World War II. This is an image of Japanese American soldiers belonging to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which consisted of second-generation Japanese Americans, also known as Nisei.
Image 3: African American Military Police Officer
Context: During World War II, African Americans experienced segregation in the civilian sector, as well as in the armed forces. This is an image of an African American MP officer who was stationed in Columbus, Georgia. A few years after World War II, President Truman desegregated the armed forces by citing African American wartime contributions.
Questions for Students
Question 1: What do you think the purpose is for the creation of each image? How are they similar and/or different?
Question 2: For images 1 and 2, do you think the creators were purposeful with their use of symbols? What stands out?
Question 3: How are images 2 and 3 similar to each other? What do they accomplish, whether good or bad?
Instructional Goals and Model Answers:
Students will be able to examine the historical contexts that influenced the creation of three World War II primary sources.
Students will be able to compare World War II primary sources that relate to discrimination and segregation in the armed services.
Question 1: I think the purpose behind the creation of each image was for military recruiting. This is easily seen in image 1, as reflected by the U.S. Army seal in the upper-left corner. Essentially, this poster aims to stir fear and hysteria among young recruits who were led to believe they can make a difference. In image 2, Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team are portrayed in a positive light, which contradicted the dominating anti-Japanese hysteria of the time. Many Japanese Americans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team were volunteers from internment camps, so this photo could have been used for recruiting purposes to show how Japanese Americans could “prove themselves” loyal. Similarly, image 3 could have been purposed to recruit African Americans into the military. The image portrays a strong and young African American man living an exciting life as an MP officer (hence the pose with the motorcycle). Compared to what most African Americans experienced during this time, this image could be seen as a way for African American men to earn prestige and “prove themselves” in a similar manner to image 2.
Question 2: In image 1, the Rising Sun Flag is front and center, and it is on the helmet of the Japanese soldier. The red coloring of the Rising Sun Flag is paired with the soldier himself, so anything red in the poster is associated with the enemy; the red text reading “The little Jap” is paired with the red colorings of the Rising Sun Flag. In image 2, the American flag is emphasized due to its large size and coloration that stands out compared to the Japanese American soldiers. The soldiers in this picture are paired with the American flag, and are thus “mighty” and portrayed in a positive manner, unlike the pairing in image 1.
Question 3: Images 2 and 3 portray minorities who were often stigmatized serving in the armed forces. Both images reflect the segregation of the armed forces since in image 2, only Japanese Americans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team are shown, and in image 3, the sign in the background distinguishes the MP officer as belonging to a segregated MP unit. Both images portray usually-stigmatized minorities in a positive light, but there are features of segregation that appeal to dominating notions of racism.
Nice work, Matt! I always enjoy reading your posts because you can tell that you’re very passionate about the history of Japanese immigrants, as well as their roles in different wars. There’s certainly something to be said about being an immigrant during war time, especially in a war where said country is fighting against the country of immigration. The United States did some truly disgusting things to these immigrants whether that was putting them in dehumanizing camps, sending them on suicide missions, or isolating them somewhere out in the Midwest somewhere. Regardless, it’s important to learn about it so those people are not forgotten for what they gave to our country. Nice job!
Interesting post Matt. I like that you managed to explore different aspects of how these immigrants were viewed and incorporated within society. Within the first picture, we see that the Japanese are labelled as enemies and something to fear. Within the second picture, we see Japanese Americans demonstrating loyalty and courage by fighting for a country that was not only harsh to them but also putting them at odds with their country of national origin. And then in the last picture we are given a powerful visual of a person of color being able to wield some actual power and autonomy. Overall, very consise.
This post is both very interesting and disturbing. I think it does a wonderful job of showing how racism was leveraged and manipulated in the war. Its something that I don’t think many students get to encounter, I know I didn’t, during their experience with WWII history. We often highlight the Tuskegee Airmen during the war, but we forget and often ignore that African Americans and other racial minority groups stepped up to do their part in the conflict. I think highlighting the Japanese experience here is also very relevant. We usually only talk about how they were interned in camps, not how they fought alongside other troops.
Interesting approach that takes students into a closer read of the images. I especially like the details that you pull out of image 1 and 2 in question 2. Builds on our “Closer Look” activity by asking students to explore the images in more detail. Great observations about flags from perspectives of color and size.
Interesting choice of Tuskegee Airmen for featured image. To paraphrase “The Dude” – it ties the post together. With irony. But you should include a text description of who they were, so the reader knows there special place in history and relevance to the lesson.
Peter, I had a complete lapse in judgment! I added in a brief description of the featured image as it indeed “ties the post together”. Thank you very much!
This is an awesome post! It is detailed and informative, and I love the title! These images present a significance and honor for marginalized peoples, encouraging them to come forward to fight, but also giving white Americans the romanticized idea that these people are happy to take on tasks for the American war effort. Really wonderful post.