Double V and African Americans. Courts > Thurgood Marshall, who won the “whites-only” Democratic primaries case in 1944 and Brown v. Board of Education.

Double Vand

African Americans

Courts > Thurgood Marshall, who won the “whites-only” Democratic primaries case in 1944 and Brown v. Board of Education in 1954

Protests > March on Washington Movement Flyer, ca. 1941 and a photograph of March on Washington, 1963

Labor > Members of the United Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Employees Union, Detroit, 1942

Soldiers > “Private Joe Louis Says” poster

Soldiers > Pearl Harbor hero Doris (“Dorie”) Miller poster

Soldiers > Poster for a Double V campaign of 1942

Soldiers > “Freedom Road,” by Langston Hughes and Josh White, 1942

That’s why I’m marching, yes, I’m marching, Marching down freedom’s road. Ain’t nobody gonna stop me, nobody gonna keep me, From marching down freedom’s road.

Hand me my gun, let the bugle blow loud, I’m on my way with my head a-proud, One objective I’ve got in view, Is to keep a hold of freedom for me and you.

That’s why I’m marching, yes, I’m marching, Marching down freedom’s road. Ain’t nobody gonna stop me, nobody gonna keep me, From marching down freedom’s road.

Ought to be plain as the nose on your face, There’s room in this plan for every race, Some folk think that freedom just ain’t right, Those are the very people I want to fight.

That’s why I’m marching, yes, I’m marching, Marching down freedom’s road. Ain’t nobody gonna stop me, nobody gonna keep me, From marching down freedom’s road.

Now, Hitler may rant, Hirohito may rave, I’m going after freedom if it leads me to my grave.

That’s why I’m marching, yes, I’m marching, I’m marching down freedom’s road. United we stand, divided we fall, Let’s make this land safe for one and all. I’ve got a message, and you know it’s right, Black and white together unite and fight.

That’s why I’m marching, yes, I’m marching, Marching down freedom’s road. Ain’t no fascists gonna stop me, no Nazis gonna keep me, From marching down freedom’s road.

Protests > Policemen arresting women during the riots in Harlem, 1943

Protests > The Detroit Riot, June 21, 1943

Housing > A leaflet disctributed by the Seven Mile/Fenelon Neighborhood Association in February 1942

Protests > A black homeowner protects his property near the Sojourner neighborhood

Protests > Detroit police arrests a group of blacks, February 1942

Protests > Police try to disburse a crowd of blacks at Sojourner Truth Housing

Project, February 1942

Protests > White mob moves up Woodward, early hours

Protests > A flaming car sets fire to a streetcar station on Woodward, early hours

Protests > White mob overturns a car belonging to a black man

Protests > Rioters overturn a car

Protests > The same car set on fire