The Double V Campaign

Shortly after America’s entrance in to World War II, The Courier launched "The Double V Campaign" (Double V). Under the theme of "Democracy: Victory at Home, Victory Abroad" The Courier remained patriotic, yet pushed for civil rights for blacks. It was very important that the campaign show loyalty towards the war effort, since the black press had been criticized for pushing their own agenda ahead of the national agenda. This campaign was initially a roaring success. This was the most important part of The Courier during the war.

The campaign was created by James G. Thompson, of Wichita, KS. In a January 31, 1942 letter to the editor, titled, "Should I Sacrifice To Live ‘Half American?’" Thompson urged that such a campaign would set apart the confusion of a black American at the time. Formally debuting February 7, 1942, Double V, appeared only as the insignia; DEMOCRACY on top of two interlocking "V’s" with a crest that included "Double Victory" and AT HOME - ABROAD at the bottom of the logo. An eagle perched across the crest. There was no other mention of the entire campaign in that issue of the paper. On February 14, 1942, The Courier released this statement, above the masthead:
"The Courier’s Double ‘V’ For a Double Victory Campaign Gets Country-Wide Support." Last week, without any public announcement or fanfare , the editors of The Courier introduced its war slogan- a double "V" for a double victory to colored America. We did this advisedly because we wanted to test the response and popularity of such a slogan with our readers. The response has been overwhelming. Our office has been inundated with hundreds of telegrams and letters of congratulations proving that without any explanation, this slogan represents the true battle cry of colored America. This week we gratefully acknowledge this voluntary response and offer the following explanation: Americans all, are involved in a gigantic war effort to assure the victory for the cause of freedom- the four freedoms that have been so nobly expressed by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill. We, as colored Americans, are determined to protect our country, our form of government and the freedoms which we cherish for ourselves and the rest of the world, therefore we have adopted the Double "V" war cry- victory over our enemies on the battlefields abroad. Thus in our fight for freedom we wage a two-pronged attack against our enslaves at home and those abroad who would enslave us. WE HAVE A STAKE IN THIS FIGHT....WE ARE AMERICANS TOO!"
That spring, DOUBLE V became an integral part of The Courier . Photographs of people endorsing the campaign saturated the paper. Supporters of DOUBLE V were prominently displayed, particularly if they were white. One typical photograph, which appeared February 28, 1942, above the nameplate on the front page, contained a black man and his white friend:
To make democracy a fact and not a dream is the aim of William Adams, salesman in a New York Men’s furnishing store, who is pictured here with Seymour Kay, a white shipping clerk. They are supporting the "Double V" campaign.
Some covers, prominently displayed two people, a black and a white, standing together with fingers on both hands forming V’s. This was placement was essential to The Courier’s plan. The Courier was determined to fight for rights within the democratic system and in cooperation with whites. Very tactfully, The Courier asked that the US practice at home what it preached abroad. This was not an observation made only by the black press either, the Nazi propaganda machine made note of the double standard in its efforts as well.

The Double V campaigns creators were announced in the April 11, 1942 edition. The brainchild, Thompson and the creator of the logo, Wilbert L. Holloway, a staff artist for The Courier . Holloway was also responsible for the comic strip Sunnyboy and many of The Courier’s editorial cartoons. Photographs were shown of the two men and an essay by Thompson was included. The following is an excerpt from it:
"....I might say that there is no doubt that this country is worth defending; things will be different for the next generation; colored Americans will come into their own, and America will become the true democracy it was designed to be. These things will become reality in time; but not through any relaxation of the efforts to secure them."
Across the country, Double V clubs surfaced. The Courier, would eventually create a Double V column for such clubs. The week after the campaign began, the February 14, 1943 issue, a photograph two young ladies, titled "Debs (as in debutantes) Support "DOUBLE V" Drive. Soon, pretty young women were regularly shown flashing two V’s, which evolved into the Double V girl, found in every issue, sometimes on page 1. Each week a new young lady would be featured. Typically, they were in college, active participants in extracurricular activities, and of course, strong supporters of the campaign. A typical Double V girl, would have a caption similar to this one;
Lovely Marguerite V. Roan, co-ed at Tennessee A. and I. college, Nashville, is the "Double Victory" girl of the week. Miss Roan, native of Cincinnati, Ohio, is an ardent booster of the "Double V" program and one of the first to join the movement. She is a talented ballet dance and has appeared in many concerts in the midwest. Incidentally, Tennessee A. and I. college is the only school in the country whose entire student body Is organized into a "Double V" club.

Other examples of the campaign’s popularity were shown, whether it be in the comic strips or in dress. One photo showed four young women singers sporting Double V dresses. Double V hats were also featured in the photographs. Whites who endorsed it were featured as well. Politicians who supported the cause were shown on the front page. Actress Lana Turner, was shown in a rather sundry shot in one edition. the caption described that her latest film, Slightly Dangerous, featured blacks and that she endorsed the campaign and was a Courier subscriber.

Often, The Courier would say that a certain person or organization supported the Double V Campaign. However, these groups and individuals were not always quoted as specifically saying that they endorsed the campaign, just the principles of it. Early on, a number of senators were shown as supporters of the Double V campaign. Warren Barbor (NJ), Francis Malone (CT), and Joseph Guffey (PA) were pictured in the April 11, 1942 issue as supporters to the campaign. There was no story accompanying their photos though, so whether the specifically endorsed the Double V campaign is uncertain. Another example is a January 3, 1943 story with the headline, "Murray, Townsend Seek a ‘Double V’." The story which detailed the CIO’s plan ( Murray and Townsend were labor leaders) to eliminate racial discrimination which undermined the war effort, did not make one mention of an endorsement for the campaign. The CIO’s plan was in accordance with the principals of Double V, but not actually using it as a rallying cry. Wendall Wilkie, former Republican candidate for President, did openly support Double V, and a photograph appeared with him wearing a Double V pin. The caption included that Mr. Wilkie, "wholeheartedly endorses The Courier ‘Double V’."

The pin that Wilkie wore was created by The Courier based on reader demand. The campaign had become so popular and promoted so heavily, that there was calls for "official" Double V merchandise, so to speak. Unofficially, double V "fashions" had become quite popular, whether it be in hats or dresses. For a nickel, a Double V pin could be purchased through mail order. In some issues, an advertisement for A Double V pin for five cents, scrolled across the page. This research did not find any totals for sales of the pin though.

On April 4, 1942, it was announced that another black paper joined the Double V campaign, the LA Sentinel. June 13, 1942 saw five more papers were added to this list: The Washington Tribune, (DC); The Challenger of Columbus, Ohio; The Aiken Journal, (SC); Interracial News Service, a periodical of the Department of Race Relations, Federal Council of Churches, (NY); and The Voice, Rochester, NY.

Even though the campaign was not moving along at the same rate it had previously, the story "Double V Wins in Courier Poll," printed October 24, 1942, discussed the results of a poll about the Double V. The question was as follows:
"DO YOU FEEL THAT THE NEGRO SHOULD SOFT PEDAL HIS DEMANDS FOR COMPLETE FREEDOM AND CITIZENSHIP AND AWAIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS?"
Eighty-eight point seven percent responded NO. Nine point two percent said YES. The remaining 2.1% answered UNCERTAIN.

The story did speak of a defensive tone for those who answered NO;
"No one must interpret this militant of Negroes as a plot to impede the war effort. Negroes recognize that the first factor in the survival of this nation is the winning of the war. But they feel integration of Negroes into the whole scheme of things ‘revitalizes’ the U.S. war program."
A Pennsylvania clerical worker summed it up when he said: "Aren’t the Allies fighting for freedom? How can the deny our effort?"

To address the minority of those polled, The Courier added a the following quote:

"As a race we need education before we can expect full citizenship."

Other quotes from the articles stated, that there was a need for a "Double V" organization-

"The logical and most sane program of all has been the Double V slogan. Many whites have endorsed it and in general it has not drawn subversive criticism which has been characteristic of a number of the so-called ‘race liberation’ movements."

Throughout 1942, the Double V campaign insignia would appear throughout the paper, in margins and sometimes on the front page, above the fold on most of those occasions. These reminders kept the campaign going without devoting actual text to them. However, as 1943 started up, the campaign was taking up less column inches then the initial start. The insignia had essentially disappeared from the pages by September 1942, and the Double V girls did not last much beyond that period. The June 5, 1943 edition did provide one of the most vivid displays of the campaign; two people, one black, one white, holding each other’s hands to form two "V’s." This was the essence of the campaign.

Although the campaign was not being promoted as much after Fall 1942, there was one specific feature of the campaign that remained.. Between briefs on its pages, as well as some stories, a "DOUBLE V" appeared. It looked similar to this:

---------VV---------

Starting in September 1945, the Double V was finally removed from the paper. However, it lived in spirit as a single V. The victory abroad had been won. The single V lasted into 1946.
Executive Order 9981, signed on July 26, 1948 by President Harry S. Truman, ended the practice of segregating troops by race in the American armed forces.

See also

President's Committee on Civil Rights