RARE WORLD WAR II-ERA HANDBILL: "A MESSAGE TO THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES FROM THE NEGROES OF AMERICA," 1944

ALEXANDER, Sadie T.M., JACKSON, Maynard, HARDIN, Walter, and WHITE, Walter. Handbill ["A Message to the Republican and Democratic Parties from the Negroes of America"]. (New York: No publisher, 1944). Single sheet of cream paper, measuring 8-1/2 by 11 inches; pp. 2. $450.

Scarce 1944 handbill from 25 major African American organizations including fraternities, churches, labor organizations, and social action groups, informing the American political parties of the state of the African American electorate and the issues deemed most central to African American voters including fair elections, equal employment, military desegregation, and the importance of ending World War II with a plan to end racism and imperialism.

"In 1944, 25 Black organizations issued a "message to the Republican and Democratic Parties from the Negroes of America" urging support for military desegregation, 'the right to vote in every state,' 'an unsegregated program of government-financed housing,' and 'an end to imperialism and colonial exploitation.' It also stressed that Black migrants were new political citizens whose allegiance was up for grabs" (Biondi, 41). Originally drafted on June 17, 1955 and subsequently delivered orally in June and July in a meeting with the Resolutions Committee of the Republican and Democratic Conventions in New York.

Unobtrusive mailing creases. Fine condition.