---
title: '"Blackout Means Black" (WPA, Oakland Defense Council, 1941-1943)'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/blackout-means-black-oakland-wpa-1941/
description: A downward black arrow points at the word 'BLACK' in heavy type beneath the words 'Blackout means', in a scalloped frame.
section: Collection
---

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3. "Blackout Means Black" (WPA, Oakland Defense Council, 1941-1943)

[!["Blackout Means Black", 1941 US poster: A downward black arrow points at the word 'BLACK' in heavy type beneath the words](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/blackout-means-black-oakland-wpa-1941.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/blackout-means-black-oakland-wpa-1941.jpg)

# "Blackout Means Black" (WPA, Oakland Defense Council, 1941-1943)

A downward black arrow points at the word 'BLACK' in heavy type beneath the words 'Blackout means', in a scalloped frame. The tell: the instruction repeats its own key word until the word becomes the picture.

Issued by the Oakland Defense Council and printed by the Oakland WPA Art Program, this poster dates from 1941 at the earliest, with the Library of Congress giving a range of 1941 to 1943. It addresses the domestic public with a wartime warning: a downward black arrow points at the word "BLACK" in heavy type, beneath "BLACKOUT" and "means", inside a scalloped frame. Repetition is the technique, because the instruction restates its own key word until the word itself becomes the picture and the rule is easy to remember.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Repetition and the illusory truth effect](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/repetition/)

## Full record

Region, Country, Medium, Issuer type, Regime, Leader, Audience, Purpose, Themes, Event, Source, Rights

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
BLACKOUT
means
BLACK
[ISSUED BY THE OAKLAND DEFENSE COUNCIL: small print]
```

The credit line is small and is partly taken from LoC's note; it is the only part not read directly from the image.

[← Big Things From Little Ideas Grow](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/big-things-from-little-ideas-grow-1941/) [Blast 'Em! Blast 'Em with more production! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/blast-em-with-more-production-1941/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Palazzo Braschi dressed for the 1934 plebiscite: rows of "SI" around the Duce](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/palazzo-braschi-si-1934/) (Fascist Italy · Mar 1934 · Identity fusion, Bandwagon, Repetition and the illusory truth effect, Demagoguery)
- [Opera Balilla school report cover, Anno XIII, Ministero Educazione Nazionale (Italy, 1934 to 1935)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/opera-balilla-pagella-copertina-xiii-1935/) (Fascist Italy · 1935 · Transfer, Repetition and the illusory truth effect)
- [Mit dem Stürmer gegen Juda (Der Stürmer display case, Worms)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/stuermerkasten-worms-1935/) (Nazi Germany · Aug 1935 · Scapegoating, Repetition and the illusory truth effect, Big lie). Content note: Anti-Jewish display case: banners 'Mit dem Stürmer gegen Juda' and 'Die Juden sind unser Unglück' with a caricature, shown whole.
- [Back the attack with war bonds](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/back-the-attack-with-war-bonds-typographic-1941/) (United States · 1941 · Glittering generalities, Repetition and the illusory truth effect)
- [Back the attack! The 3rd War Loan is on! Buy bonds here](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/back-the-attack-3rd-war-loan-is-on-1943/) (United States · 1943 · Transfer, Repetition and the illusory truth effect)
- [Back the Attack: Buy an Extra $100 War Bond, 3rd War Loan](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/back-the-attack-buy-extra-100-war-bond-3rd-war-loan-1943/) (United States · 1943 · Plain folks, Transfer, Repetition and the illusory truth effect)
- [Back the attack! Buy war bonds](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/back-the-attack-buy-war-bonds-schreiber-1943/) (United States · 1943 · Transfer, Repetition and the illusory truth effect)
- [Back the Attack! Buy extra war bonds](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/back-the-attack-buy-extra-war-bonds-bookmark-1944/) (United States · 1944 · Glittering generalities, Repetition and the illusory truth effect)