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Postcards WWII Sailors

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Title

Postcards WWII Sailors

Abstract

Vernacular photography refers to photos that focus on everyday life and people and makes the ordinary and familiar matter.

In the case of African American servicemen, vernacular photography visually turned the uniformed soldier into both an everyday-man and first-class citizen. Photographs of Black men standing strong and dressed in military uniform showed them as loyal and patriotic, but most importantly, as American citizens.

Vernacular photography of uniformed soldiers also mobilized Black families and communities. Particularly, during WWII, the images provided African Americans with visual symbols that aided in the Double V Campaign, rallying Black people to fight for victories abroad against fascism and at home against U.S. racism.

Bibliographic Citation

African American Real Photo Postcard Collection, MS. 0583, Box 2, Special Collections,

The Johns Hopkins University