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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Untitled
Late 20th Early 21st Century

Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a black background with "Martin Luther King, Jr. Day" and a MLK quote in red, over a black and white profile photo of King. At the bottom of the poster...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
1981

Poster has black printed on tan colored paper. At the top is a silhouette of Martin Luther King, Jr., with a quote at the bottom right. At the bottom of the poster is "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr...

Celebrate Black Womanhood
1979

Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a blue/purple background with black and white text and images. At the top is "''Celebrate Black Womanhood'' / A Black / Women''s / Conference" with...

Stop the KKK!
Late 20th Early 21st Century

Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a black and gray image of KK members standing below a burning cross. White overlaid text reads "no lynch mob terror in New York! / Stop / The KKK!"....

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
1987

Poster has a stylized black, brown, orange and blue image of Martin Luther King Jr. At the bottom right is "Dr. / Martin / Luther / King Jr. / January 15" in white.

Untitled
1967

Poster has a black illustration on white paper of H. Rap Brown''s face. Centered at the bottomis "H. ''Rapp'' Brown".

Malcom X
1966

Poster has a stylized black, white and beige image of Malcom X, with his name and "1925 1965" printed at the bottom left.

H. Rap Brown
1967

Poster has a black illustration printed on white paper showing H. Rap Brown, with the name printed at the bottom left.

True Blue
Late 20th Early 21st Century

Poster has a stylized, multicolor photo of a family gathered around a fireplace looking at a portrait hanging over the mantle of a soldier. Centered at the bottom is "True Blue".

The Brother Needs You
Late 20th Early 21st Century

Poster has a black and white photo of two hands clasped. At the top is "the brother needs you" in white.

untitled (sun and text)
Late 20th Early 21st Century

Poster has a brown graphic background printed on white paper. At the center is a stylized sun filled with black text by Martin Luther King,Jr., reading "I just want / to be there - in / love and...

Jesus
1992

Poster has a collage of multicolor,s tylized image of Jesus as an African American.

1963 Great March on Washington
1983

Poster has blue printed edgese enclosing a stylized, multicolor image of Martin Luther King, Jr. looking over a crowd of people surrounding the reflecting pool in front of the Washington Monument...

Stokley Carmichael
1968

Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the center is an illustration of Stokley Charmichael in sunglasses, with his name printed at the bottom right.

Hell No! We Won't Go!
Late 20th Early 21st Century

Poster has a black and white photo of a man speaking with black text overlaid reading "Hell No! / We Won''t Go!"

1968

Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black background with white text and images. At the top left is a Black Panther Panther Party panther logo. At the bottom right is a dove surrounded...

Allah's Angry Man
Late 20th Early 21st Century

Poster has a stylized black and white image of Malcom X. In a scroll at the top right is "a / thousand / more / shall / rise..." At the bottom left is "Allah''s / Angry Man". In the bottom left...

What Happens to a Black Man Upon Returning from Vietnam?
1970

Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "What Happens To A Black Man / Upon Returning From Vietnam?" At the left is a photo of a soldier with a gun. At the right is "Jerry Lee...

untitled (Malcolm X)
Late 20th Early 21st Century

Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is an image of Malcolm X. At the bottom is a quote by Malcolm X: "I Believe That There Will Ultimately Be A Clash Between The / Oppressed...

Negro History
Late 20th Early 21st Century

Poster has brown and black ink screen printed on browned paper. At the top is "Negor History / and / a new birth of freedom" with a stylized image of Frederick Douglass. At the bottom is a...

Untitled
1969

Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is a photo of a child, with the text "on August 25, 1969 / the United Stated Government / broke its promise to / the children of Mississippi...

Liberation of Our People
1967

Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a green and blue background with black text reading "No Civil Rights Workers Will Be Shot / No Crosses Will Burn / A-Beta / Presents / Liberation / of...

Untitled
Late 20th Early 21st Century

#VALUE!

Untitled
Late 20th Early 21st Century

#VALUE!

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