THE SHELF

Chandler Owen (1889-1967) was a prolific writer, editor, and early activist for African-American Civil Rights. In 1916, he joined the Socialist Party of America and became a follower of the Harlem activist, Hubert H. Harrison. In 1917, Owen founded a socialist journal, the Messenger, where he published political and social commentary, promoted unionism, and literature of the New Negro Movement. The journal was both progressive and radical, taking the stance that African Americans should not fight in WWI for a “so-called” democracy of Europe while still being denied equality in their own homeland. Owen was arrested under the Espionage Act for his incendiary comments in the journal. The Messenger folded in 1928 and Owen became disenchanted with socialism. He eventually joined the Republican Party believing it would provide the best forum for increasing political rights and equality for blacks. By the mid-1920s Owen had become a speechwriter for local Republican candidates. Though he was no fan of President Roosevelt’s policies toward African Americans, Owen worked for the Allied war effort in WWII. He took a job with the U.S. Office of Information, a government propaganda bureau, and wrote Negroes and the War, a booklet that presented arguments in favor of black support of the war effort. Owen saw this world war as a true threat to democracy, especially toward African American aspirations for progress and equality. The US government wanted the support of blacks in the war effort, and while Owen’s political leanings and activism were controversial, his credibility with the minority population was viewed as an acceptable compromise. OWI published and distributed 2.5 million copies of Negroes and the War. Heavily illustrated to demonstrate the roles of blacks in the war, the pamphlet also featured imagery of growing opportunities and achievements of blacks in American society, such as professional work, education, religion, athletics, and entertainment.

“Some Negro Americans say that it makes no 
difference who wins this war”. They say that 
things could not be any worse under Hitler.
These are the people who emphasize liabilities; 
they never appraise their assets. They magnify 
the bad. They minimize the good. 
Without underestimating the Negro’s liabilities
without denying the fact of handicaps and 
inequalities, I want to set down just what stake 
the Negro has in America—just what he has to lose under Hitler.

-Owen Chandler

Howard University

The legendary Tuskegee Airmen

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Description:

Owen, Chandler. Negroes and the war. [Washington, D.C. : U.S. Office of War Information, 1942].

Persistent Link:

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:9050591

Repository:

Widener Library

Institution:

Harvard University

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