Racism in Propaganda
Racism had an enormous impact on society during the war and it was a very popular theme used for propaganda. “One of the most effective tools for stirring these evil thoughts and drumming a populace into support for a war is good, old fashioned racism.”(Toptenz). Every country used racism as a form of propaganda against each other to make the enemy look bad. The Japanese Americans referred to Americans as, “racist, gross, coarse, and lacking in sincerity.” (Pavia, 1994, 672). Using racism as a theme for propaganda works because it shows the enemy as less human and worthless and boosts patriotism for their country. One poster that was very popular was, “ This is the Enemy,” because it showed a Japanese soldier carrying a naked white woman away from a burning fire while there are others burning in the fire in the background. All of the posters that were created by the Americans and the Japanese were to make the other nation look non human and make them look like monsters.(Toptenz)
The American poster “Be Sure You Have Correct Time” uses similar racist imagery to remind soldiers of the operational value of keeping their watches wound while in the field. With its blatantly offensive cartoon versions of Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo, it speaks to the hatred all soldiers feel for their enemies and the lengths to which they and their superiors went to dehumanize the men they were tasked with killing. (Toptenz). Does racism in propaganda cause controversy? Many people in the U.S. that were immigrants were very upset by propaganda because the racism in propaganda caused them to lose their rights that they worked so hard to obtain. Many minorities believed that people chose ignorance when they discriminated against those of another race during the war. Race was an important role during the war and caused much controversy between and within nations. After all, Americans saw themselves as the "good guys." The Nazis were racists, and the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, mistreated prisoners, and committed atrocities. Yet racism was clearly part of U.S. propaganda. These three armies each had a different purpose when it came to fighting in the war. The propaganda that was created during World War II was no laughing matter and this was how each country was able to reveal their true colors. "Each nation expected its soldiers to fight for its cause, but Japanese troops were exhorted to die for the emperorf while American soldiers were called on to do their part now with the promise of a better life after the war. The American home front was urged to sacrifice and work harder to speed the war's end and bring the boys home; any promise of individual postwar happiness seemed lacking in Japanese propaganda." (Paviva, 1994, 675).
The American poster “Be Sure You Have Correct Time” uses similar racist imagery to remind soldiers of the operational value of keeping their watches wound while in the field. With its blatantly offensive cartoon versions of Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo, it speaks to the hatred all soldiers feel for their enemies and the lengths to which they and their superiors went to dehumanize the men they were tasked with killing. (Toptenz). Does racism in propaganda cause controversy? Many people in the U.S. that were immigrants were very upset by propaganda because the racism in propaganda caused them to lose their rights that they worked so hard to obtain. Many minorities believed that people chose ignorance when they discriminated against those of another race during the war. Race was an important role during the war and caused much controversy between and within nations. After all, Americans saw themselves as the "good guys." The Nazis were racists, and the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, mistreated prisoners, and committed atrocities. Yet racism was clearly part of U.S. propaganda. These three armies each had a different purpose when it came to fighting in the war. The propaganda that was created during World War II was no laughing matter and this was how each country was able to reveal their true colors. "Each nation expected its soldiers to fight for its cause, but Japanese troops were exhorted to die for the emperorf while American soldiers were called on to do their part now with the promise of a better life after the war. The American home front was urged to sacrifice and work harder to speed the war's end and bring the boys home; any promise of individual postwar happiness seemed lacking in Japanese propaganda." (Paviva, 1994, 675).