Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
"I'm going to see that you grow up in a better world, young fellow!", 1943 US cartoon: A Black soldier with a rifle and fixed

"I'm going to see that you grow up in a better world, young fellow!"

A Black soldier with a rifle and fixed bayonet holds a child while a woman embraces him; beside them a smoke cloud on the horizon is labelled 'The Battle for Freedom'. The tell is glittering generalities: 'freedom' and 'a better world' stand as the stated purpose of military service, tied to family.

Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

Glittering generalitiesIdentity fusion
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
War and the military, Home front, Race and ethnicity
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-12 (NAID 535606).

Text on the object

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

THE BATTLE FOR FREEDOM

"I'M GOING TO SEE THAT YOU GROW UP IN A BETTER WORLD, YOUNG FELLOW!"

Alston

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