---
title: '"The work that makes democracy work!" [Black labor]'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-the-work-that-makes-democracy-work-1943/
description: A Black worker in overalls and a cap, seen from behind, holds an envelope marked '4,000,000 Dollars' and looks toward a city skyline with a flag.
section: Collection
---

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3. "The work that makes democracy work!" [Black labor]

[!["The work that makes democracy work!" \[Black labor\], 1943 US cartoon: A Black worker in overalls and a cap, seen from behind](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-the-work-that-makes-democracy-work-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-the-work-that-makes-democracy-work-1943.jpg)

# "The work that makes democracy work!" [Black labor]

A Black worker in overalls and a cap, seen from behind, holds an envelope marked '4,000,000 Dollars' and looks toward a city skyline with a flag. A news item quoted at top reads that Negro workers earn four million dollars as the Federal Works Agency builds community facilities in war production areas. The tell is a news-item figure with no denominator or comparison, paired with the virtue word 'democracy'; the claim itself was not checked here.

## Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

[Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/) [Card stacking](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/card-stacking/)

## Text on the object

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

```
"NEGRO WORKERS EARN FOUR MILLION DOLLARS, AS FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY BUILDS SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, HEALTH CENTERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN WAR PRODUCTION AREAS."
....NEWS ITEM
4,000,000 DOLLARS
"THE WORK THAT MAKES DEMOCRACY WORK!"
Alston OWI
```

[← The Scroll Grows \[cited for bravery\]](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-the-scroll-grows-1943/) ["Thems Our Boys, Ma!" (title crossed out) - Black farmers watching planes →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-thems-our-boys-ma-mockup-1943/)

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