---
title: '"Thems Our Boys, Ma!" (title crossed out) - Black farmers watching planes'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-thems-our-boys-ma-mockup-1943/
description: A pencil artwork shows a Black farmer in overalls and a woman in a head scarf, standing behind a plough and looking up at formations of aircraft.
section: Collection
---

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3. "Thems Our Boys, Ma!" (title crossed out) - Black farmers watching

[!["Thems Our Boys, Ma!" (title crossed out) - Black farmers watching planes, 1943 US cartoon: A pencil artwork shows a Black](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-thems-our-boys-ma-mockup-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-thems-our-boys-ma-mockup-1943.jpg)

# "Thems Our Boys, Ma!" (title crossed out) - Black farmers watching planes

A pencil artwork shows a Black farmer in overalls and a woman in a head scarf, standing behind a plough and looking up at formations of aircraft. A title below the picture is crossed out. The technique is a weak fit for plain-folks: rural working people are shown taking pride in the air force.

## Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

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

```
"Thems Our Boys, Ma!" [crossed out; written mirror-reversed]
```

[← "The work that makes democracy work!" \[Black labor\]](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-the-work-that-makes-democracy-work-1943/) ["Together again for freedom!!" →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-together-again-for-freedom-1943/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)