Speak American

Title

Speak American

Creator

Date

c. 1943

Description

This is one of five posters which represent approximately 200 similar posters created by school children in Hawaii during World War II. Most of the themes chosen by the children parallel themes illustrated by posters produced for the government to promote the war effort or propaganda: Victory Gardens, scrap metal and rubber drives, Work to Win Campaign, Dengue Fever eradication. One particular poster in striking deep blue and bright red fosters what many today would consider racist jingoism: the “Speak American” campaign; ironically, this poster was painted by a Japanese American boy, age seven.

Is Part Of

Hawaiian Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library