Collection of Documents and Ephemera Related to a U.S. Government Presentation on Anti-Communist Propaganda Given Before the Negro Newspaper Publishers Association During the Height of the Cold War
New York and Washington: 1951. A collection consisting of one printed program for the Twelfth Annual Convention of the Negro Newspaper Publishers Association, together with several other items totaling 27 pages of mimeographed and handwritten notes, memoranda, and other texts. This additional material all relates to a presentation given at the convention by Reed Harris, deputy director of the International Information Administration (IIA), related to anti-Soviet propaganda produced by the United States Government during the height of the Cold War. These items, which may have belonged to Harris, include a retained copy of a report written by Harris about the presentation, which was intended to promote American propaganda efforts including the "Voice of America" radio show it broadcast to the Soviet Union. The report comments on the reception of the gathered audience of African American newspaper notables:
"The lack of specialized Negro material in the presentation was perhaps considerably alleviated by two fortunate circumstances...2) Mrs. Anna Arnold Hedgeman, Special Assistant and Racial Problems Advisor...was present as a guest of honor and introduced me on very favorable and friendly terms to all the key people present...Some of the questioners asked whether I felt we had really made strong enough efforts to get more Negroes into our program both here and abroad...Two of the publishers...said that we apparently were attempting to do a thoroughly fair job covering the racial question. A considerable resentment was expressed over the Communist attempts to exploit racial antagonisms wherever possible in the United States."
Other items include notes for Barrett's opening and concluding remarks, an article titled "Americans of Negro Descent An Advancing Group," which was apparently distributed to IIA members, a three page document titled "Agreed Statement on Policy to Be Used in Speeches," outlining the aims and importance of the propaganda effort, nine pages of introductory text for the various propaganda recordings played by Harris for convention members, two retained copes of telegrams sent by Harris's boss, Edward W. Barrett, to the president of the Negro Newspaper Publishers Association, and a U.S. Government Office Memorandum outlining the speech. A fascinating look into the confluence of American Cold War propaganda efforts and the African American press. In very good condition with mild creasing. Item #13023
Price: $1,250.00