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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June Jordan Hal Brightcloud, artist, Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink and a thin line border printed on white paper. On the left side is an illustration of a woman with short hair. At the right are two columns of text - an excerpt titled "On a...	Ntozake Shange Hal Brightcloud, artist, Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink and a thin black border printed on white paper. At the top is an illustration of a woman with small braids in her hair. Down the bottom of the poster is a three paragraph poem...
Black History 1981 Poster has a black background with white text and an image. At the top is "Third World Arts / Presents / Feature & Short / Black Films". At the left center is an image of a man in a top hat...	Juneteenth Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black background with a white unprinted edge at the left. Imposed over the background at the left is a green image of African American men drumming. Across the top is "San Francisco"...
I Know What the Red Clay Looks Like Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a red printed background with a yellow strip at the top and a green strip at the bottom. At the center is a color illustration showing the backs of three African American women reaching...	I Am The Greatest! Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. Across the top is "A Guaranteed High Fidelity Recording" followed by a black and white image of a man in a suit standing amoung a pile of books, papers...
Aretha Franklin Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a yellow background with black ink. At the top left is "Regal" and at the top right is the address and hours. Below the text is "3 Big Days - Thur., Fri...	The Dells Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a background that''s red at the top, yellow at the center and green at the bottom with black text and an image. At the top is "Don Johnson presents" with...
Dream Girls Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black background. At the top is a color image of a woman in a sparkling red dress singing on stage with other performers in the background. Across the top is "the musical of the...	Battle of the Blues Tribune Press Late 20th Early 21st Century #VALUE!
Africa On The Move Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is "The African History Month Committee Presents" followed by an illustration of the face of a man with a beard and his eyes shaded....	Melinda Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and orange ink printed on white paper. At the top left are three black and white photos side by side of three African American men, with their role in the film and names below....
National Black Unity Football Classic Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a purple background with white and red text and images. Across the top is "first annual Philadelphia" in white and "National Black Unity / Football Classic" in white follwoed by "Alcorn...	A Black Quartet Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a whtie unprinted border and a black background with white text and images. At the top is "Woodie King Associates, Inc. / in association with Chelsea Theater Center / Presents". At the...
Negro Leagues Baseball 1997 Poster has a beige background. At the center is a collage of images of African American baseball players and teams. At the bottom right of the image is "Negro / Leagues / Baseball". Above the...	WACC Open House Nancy Hom 1981 Poster has red, black and blue ink printed on white paper. At the center is an illustration with a red background showing two African American children who appear to be laughing. Across the top is...
Charlotte Lewis 1990 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a pastel illustration showing the profiles of four African American females. To the bottom right is "Fire - Earth - Water - Air/African Adinkra Symbol...	Slaves Today 1999 Poster has black ink printed on a beige marbled background. Down the center of the poster is a poem titled "Slaves Today" by Lloyd W. Jones, Jr. To the left and right of the poem are illustrations...
Lewis Watts Lewis Watts 1989 Poster has a black and white photograph and black text printed on white paper. The photo, at the left, shows an African American woman sitting on a step in fromt of a residence with another...	untitled (figure on a red background) 1972 Poster has unprinted white edges enclosing a red background with a black shaded figure at the bottom. Across the top are pieces of paper and tags "taped" on the "canvas". Over the figure at the...
Friends of Marcus Books 1982 Poster has black ink printed on orange paper. Across the top is "Friends of Marcus Books" followed by a large illustration of heads tied with ribbon floating above the San Francisco skyline. To...	Slave Story 1999 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a beige marbled background with black text. Down the center is a poem titled "Slaver Story" by Lloyd W. Jones, Jr. At the top left corner and down the...
Africa On The Move Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster has a gold-colored background with a red, green, and yellow border around the outside edge. There is a black image of a bearded-man''s face at the top of the page. "The African History...	K-Dub Art Collective Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black background. Across the bottom is "K-Dub Art Collective". The rest of the poster shows art and photos with African themes. At the top is "Visual Lyrics".