!["The work that makes democracy work!" [Black labor], 1943 US cartoon: A Black worker in overalls and a cap, seen from behind](../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
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Office of War Information (cartoon artwork; artist Charles Alston)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Cartoon
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Themes
- Labor, Economy and finance, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 208, Cartoons Promoting the War Effort (NAID 535594), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Office of War Information. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 208, 208-COM-133 (NAID 535646).
Text on the object
"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
