Political Posters

The “All Of Us Or None” (AOUON) archive project was started by Free Speech Movement activist Michael Rossman in 1977 to gather and document posters of modern progressive movements in the United States. Though some early works are included, its focus is on the domestic political poster renaissance that began in 1965 and continues to this day. When Rossman died May 12, 2008 his family donated the collection to the Oakland Museum of California. More …

The Archive gathered posters from all streams of progressive activity — from movements of protest, liberation, and affirmative action, trade union and community struggles, to electoral and environmental organizing, community services, and visionary manifestos. It is strongest in work from the San Francisco Bay Area, but its scope is national: approximately one-quarter of its holdings come from out of state, primarily New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. These are complemented by a representation of international work. The collection consists of approximately 24,500 distinct titles.

The collection includes examples from well-known graphic artists including Malaquías Montoya, Emory Douglas, Rachael Romero, Rupert Garcia, Yolanda Lopez, Favianna Rodriguez, Carlos Cortez, Nancy Hom, Juan Fuentes, and Jos Sances, as well as material from seminal collective workshops such as La Raza Silkscreen, the Royal Chicano Air Force, Japantown Art and Media, Kearny Street Workshop, and Inkworks Press. Perhaps more important, the depth and breadth of the collection reveals the contribution of numerous lesser known or even anonymous artists whose cumulative impact on this democratic public art form has yet to be properly understood.

The cataloging of the AOUON Archive was made possible by a generous grant from the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation.

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Stepping into Tomorrow Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a white unprinted background with three horizontal green stripes. At the top left is "Stepping" in black, "Into" in green in a vertical black strip and "Tomorrow" circled around a black...	Sanctuary: The Spirit of Harriet Tubman Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster shows a stylized color image of human figures walking through waving and braided fabric. Adhered on the top left corner of the image is a white piece of paper with "Tickets On Sale...
One Act Festival La Raza Graphic Center, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and red ink printed on white paper. Down the left side are three illustrations stacked. At the top is a shattered heart with "Romance" above. At the center is a bloody ax with "...	Rhodessa Jones & Idris Ackamoor Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a background that transitions from yellow at the top to brown at the bottom. Across the top is "Rhodessa Jones & Idris Ackamoor / with Jon Greene ''...
Walk Together Children 1970 Poster has a black printed background with a black and white photo of a woman with her fist raised at the bottom left and white text. At the top is "University of California, Berkeley / The Afro-...	The Blacks 1972 Poster has a black printed background. At the center is a green and yellow tinted image of a figure in a white mask. At the bottom left is "The Department of Dramatic Art / presents / A University...
One Day In The Life Sentury Printing, printer 2000 Poster has yellow, red and black ink printed on white paper. Background is a yellow image. At the top is "Alfred Williamson Associates And Recovery Theater / proudly presents / the baddest play in...	untitled (figure holding earth) 1970 Poster has black ink printed on white paper showing the profile of a figure shaded in black with images of outer space within. The figure''s hand is raised above his chest and holds a planet earth...
Raining Down Stars 1992 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a gray background with black shaded figure on all fours over a white background. In the figure are stars with black and white photos of people. Down the...	Lawd Ha' Mercy Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background. Across the top is "Morris Day - Jerome Benton / David Whitfield - musical director Edwin Hawkins / in" in white and red, "David E. Talbert''s" in orange and...
Black Panther 1988 Poster has a black printed background with white text and images. At the top left is "The Spirit Has Left Him, / But The Fire Still Burns." followed by an illustration of the faces of three...	Citi Centre Dance Theatre Inkworks Press, printer 1983 Poster has a black printed background wtih a black and white photo and white and teal text. Across the top is "Everybody''s Creative Arts Center / presents its new / Resident Dance Company" in...
Take Care Of Business 1971 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black background with white text and an image. Down the left side is "Back by popular demand: / El Muhajir''s / (Marvin X) / Take / Care / Of /...	Take Care of Business 1971 Poster has black text printed on white paper. Across the top is "The / Black Educational Theatre / presents" followed by a large image of a striped hallway leading to an open striped door. In the...
Black Dance & Music 1981 Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is a gray box with yellow text reading "Celebrating Of The / Black Dance & Music / Experience" followed by "A Journey From Africa To...	Nuba Dance Theater 1990 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top left is "Nuba / Dance Theater / in concert / at the Calvin Simmons Theatre / Friday September 28th 1990 / 8:00pm curtain / 10 Tenth Street...
Maya Angelou 1997 Poster has a background showing four color illustrations. The top left image shows a woman on a porch of a building named "Willie''s" while other figures roam about; at the top right of the image...	Contempt Zakariah H. Shabazz 1971 Poster has blue ink printed on white paper. Centered at the top is "Contempt". At the right is a blue silhouette of a figure. At the left is a poem about a person''s contempt towards humanity and...
No Disrespect Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black printed edges enclosing a white background. At the top is "No / Disrespect" in black and red. Below the title at the right is "if people lie to God each and every / day, in their...	Let it Shine: Improvisation in African-American Star Quilts 2001 Poster has a black printed background with found color images side by side at the center showing star quilts. Across the top and bottom is "William D. Cannon Art Gallery - September 15 through...
Festival 1990 Poster has a black printed background. At the top is a color illustration showing photos of Africa, figures, a boat and an Emancipation feather falling along with confetti. Below the image is "...	Soul Stirrings Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black background with brown rectangualr and triangular graphic designs. Across the top is "Soul Stirrings" in beige along with a large brown circle with a black illustration showing a...
Maya Angelou Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a light purple printed background with a beige and purple leafe design at the left and right edges. At the top is "Celebrating the writing of" in blue and "Maya / Angelou" in purple....	Little Milton Sentury Printing, printer 1992 Poster has a white unprinted edge at the left enclosing a color background - red at the top, green at the bottom and white at the center - with black text. At the top is "All-Star Productions / In...