The Role Of Racism In Propaganda

The vast majority of wartime propaganda, especially examples which depict the enemy, include blatant racism, be it slurs, depictions, or stereotypes. Racism in propaganda was not limited to only Germany, but almost every nation involved in World War Two. My research question is how and why racism was used so extensively in propaganda, and what effect it had on the people of these nations. I am interested in this topic because racism is still an issue today and often a source of conflict. To me, it is fascinating that governments harness the power of hatred racism can create in times of war, yet attempt to ease race relations in times of peace. I also feel a special connection to this topic as I, being of middle eastern descent and growing up in a post 9/11 America, was often on the receiving end of racist jokes and taunts based off the assumption that “my people” are the enemy. Through my research, I hope to better understand the way in which racism became common in propaganda. More specifically, I wish to learn about how propaganda was used to alter social perceptions during the war, …show more content…
Thus far, the vast majority of examples of racist propaganda I have found were created by America against the Japanese. As my paper will cover racism in propaganda in a broader sense, I need to find examples of propaganda created against other nations or by other nations against Allied forces. Also, many prime examples of racist propaganda have been either lost through the years, or pulled from the public making finding some sources difficult. Another issue will be keeping the paper specific enough which will be challenging due to the fact that I will be looking at many examples, nations, and cultures. The only solution to this problem will be through careful organization of my essay and thorough planning. Overall, these challenges can be overcome and will not hinder the success of my research