About the Topic
The "Double V" in Double V Campaign stands for Double Victory. One victory that is symbolized in the "V" is the victory overseas, or in other words, a victory in the war. The Americans were winning the war, with help from talented pilots and bombers like the Tuskegee Airmen, skilled generals like Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Sr, and women working in factories back home in America. The other victory stands for a victory at home. This would be a victory over prejudice and discrimination towards people of different races or colors. James G. Thompson sent a letter to the Pittsburgh Courier stating his ideas for a new campaign. He ended up being one of the idea-makers of the Double V Campaign and in it, he expressed many of his concerns and ideas about racism and its solution.
Interesting Facts
- When WWII started, around 2.5 million African Americans volunteered or were drafted into the different branches of the Army. This showed many people that even though African Americans still faced discrimination in the United States, they were willing to fight for their country.
- A national and local newspaper called the Pittsburgh Courier published stories about African American struggles and even hired African American employees. In fact, the picture of the newspaper headline in the top picture of this page is an edition of the Pittsburgh Courier relating to the Double V Campaign.
- The Campaign included many things to attract attention from the public, including signature songs and even hair styles.
- J. Edgar Hoover heard about African American newspapers increasing in popularity so he tried to destroy and get rid of the Black Press. His reasoning was that the Black Press was reporting on Jim Crow Laws and how to stop them. Some people, like Hoover, also tried to get rid of the Black Press, but all attempts failed. People would try to get the newspapers arrested for treason against the United States, when legally, rights shouldn't have been dependent on race or color anymore.
Importance to History
The reason that the Double V Campaign is important in the era of WWII is that it progressed our entire country and mind-set forward, but it was all created by one person. It helped Americans start breaking through the mental barriers of letting African Americans into their culture. The Double V Campaign did more than that, though. Along with helping Americans into the right mind-set, it aided in supporting the African American troops, which, in the long-run, helped America and its allies win World War II.
Selected Pictures
This is the symbol for the Double V Campaign. As you can see, there is an eagle, which represents America, and two "V"'s which represent victory at home and abroad.
This is a letter that shows the people who came up with the Double V Campaign.
This is a picture of African Americans protesting against racism around the time of World War II.
This picture is also seen on the top picture of this page. It is the cover of a book by Michael L. Cooper, which discusses the Double V Campaign.
Research
1.) "The Double Victory Campaign." HennessyHistory. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
(http://hennessyhistory.wikispaces.com/Double Victory Campaign-1)
2.) "United States Home Front during World War II." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 Dec. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_home_front_during_World_War_II)
3.) PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
(http://www.pbs.org/blackpress/news_bios/courier.html)
4.) "THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS - Facilitator Guide." THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS - Facilitator Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
(http://newsreel.org/guides/blackpress/treason.htm)
5.) Bing Images
(http://hennessyhistory.wikispaces.com/Double Victory Campaign-1)
2.) "United States Home Front during World War II." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 Dec. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_home_front_during_World_War_II)
3.) PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
(http://www.pbs.org/blackpress/news_bios/courier.html)
4.) "THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS - Facilitator Guide." THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS - Facilitator Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
(http://newsreel.org/guides/blackpress/treason.htm)
5.) Bing Images