Negroes and the War by Chandler Owen. A scarce wartime propaganda piece seeking Black support for the war effort.

Published by United States Office of War Information, Washington, D.C., 1942. First and only edition. Photography by Eliot Elisofon (1911-1973). Softcover, printed on newsprint, side staple bound, 13" x 10", 72 pages, richly illustrated with 140 b&w photographs documenting African American opportunities and achievement, showing the activities of professional Black men and women, including the Tuskegee Airmen and boxer Joe Louis in his army fatigues. FAIR CONDITION: the spine fold is scraped, tender, and some pages are pulling from the staples but still firmly attached, the horizontal mailing fold has some small scrapes and tears on the front cover and a long closed tear on rear cover, the inner pages are somewhat fragile, have light wear and age-toning, but overall complete, bright, clean, and unmarked. Scarce.

In 1942, the US Office of War Information (OWI) was created. A government propaganda bureau, they commissioned Chandler Owen to create a work that presented arguments rallying Black support for the war and telling African Americans what they stood to lose should Germany win the war. Although the publication literally brought Blacks into the national war time framework with visible evidence of official recognition and inclusiveness for African Americans, prominent Black leaders quickly and loudly objected. Their overriding criticism was that it failed to make any assurances about future progress in breaking down the barriers of racial inequality.

CHANDLER OWEN (1889-1967) writer, editor, socialist, republican, early activist for African American Civil Rights, and co-founder of radical journal of the New Negro Movement, The Messenger (with A. Philip Randolph).