Explore Black History

1972

A framed black and white paper poster advertisement for the first National Black Political Convention of 1972. The poster features a large, mural-like illustration with multiple motifs and narratives. Foremost on the left is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is positioned in a profile view wearing a suit jacket with button sleeve detail. His mouth is open as if speaking passionately. His head is framed by the stars on a billowing American flag, the stripes of which extend across the top middle of the entire drawing. The word [PEACE], shaded in black and white, is written vertically from the middle of Dr. King’s suit sleeve, the ‘E’ replaced by the middle of a large group of individuals, marching alongside the last two black and white stripes of the flag. At the end of the top of the flag is a square frame showing the symbolic peace dove flying from outstretched hands; the hand on the left is white and the hand on the right is black. The doves’ wings extend beyond the frame. Below the last black stripe of the flag, to the right of the marchers, there is a flaming crucifix with robed and hooded figures surrounding it. They hold rifles and pitchforks.
Following the stretch of Dr. King’s proper right arm, beginning under his shoulder: the outline of the state of Tennessee covers the bottom of his arm to his elbow. The city of Memphis is marked at the lower left corner on Dr. King’s back. Following along the bottom of his sleeve is the lightly shaded outline of the southern United States, covering roughly from North Caroline, to Florida, and west or left to the south central-most of Texas. Written along the curve of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, is Rod Ward’s signature. [FREEDOM] is written in large block letters, below the outline of the states: the ‘REE’ without dark inner shading; the ‘D’ covered by the length of Florida, and the ‘M’ cut off by the border of the entire drawing. Five chained links connect to a fixed round hook atop the one cent Lincoln dangling from the dark lanyard in Dr. King’s fist, and which replaces the ‘O’.
[BLACK POLITICAL NATIONAL] reads horizontally above the drawing in large black bold text, and [CONVENTION], in even larger black bold text reads vertically besides the drawing, with the outline of the state of Indiana at the bottom right. Inside of the state outline is: [GARY, / IND. / MAR. / 1972]. The poster is framed in black wood and plastic with a glass facing.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Memorabilia and Ephemera - Political and Activist Ephemera

Civil Rights Movement
Black Power (Black Pride)

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2019.28.35

posters

Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

ink on paper (fiber product) with cardboard , glass and wood

H x W x D (Framed): 17 5/8 × 22 3/4 × 13/16 in. (44.7 × 57.8 × 2.1 cm)

Object Name • Poster for the National Black Political Convention by artist Rod Ward

nmaahc_2019.28.35

NMAAHC

POSTER FOR THE NATIONAL BLACK POLITICAL CONVENTION BY ARTIST ROD WARD

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1970s

King, Martin Luther • Ku Klux Klan, 3rd • National Black Political Convention • Ward, Rod

Gary • Lake County • Indiana • United States • North and Central America

White supremacy movements • Civil Rights • Civil rights • Politics • Black Power (Black Pride) • Freedom • U.S. History, 1969-2001 • Race relations

City • Gary • County • Lake County • State • Indiana • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Unknown - Restrictions Possible