A Pledge and a Prayer
A Black soldier in a helmet, seen from behind, stands with a bayoneted rifle looking up at a bright star in a night sky, with a line of Christmas text arching above. The tell is transfer and glittering generalities: the nativity-star imagery and 'peace, good will' wording attach religious sentiment to the soldier's service.
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
- War and the military, Religion, 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, Artworks and Mockups for 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-135 (NAID 535648).
Text on the object
".....AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN" "A PLEDGE AND A PRAYER." [Signed:] Alston for O.W.I.
