1919 True Blue
the Vintage Map Shop, Inc.
Regular price $45.00
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By: Edward George Renesch
Date of Original: 1919 (dated) Chicago
Original Size: 20 x 16 inches
This is a fine print reproduction of the rare World War I propaganda poster “True Blue,” honoring African American soldiers serving overseas. Created by E. G. Renesch, it followed his earlier recruitment poster “Colored Man Is No Slacker!” and reflects the emotional cost of wartime service on Black families at home.
The scene shows a young African American mother and her three children gathered in their home, remembering a father fighting abroad. His portrait, flanked by crossed American flags, hangs above the fireplace alongside images of George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, and Abraham Lincoln. The children each respond differently, a daughter holding her doll speaks of her father, the youngest reaches toward his portrait, and the eldest son, dressed in clothing reminiscent of an Army officer, gazes upward with pride. A single-star service flag hangs in the window, while a cat rests by the fire, reinforcing the quiet domestic setting.
When the United States entered World War I in 1917, roughly 20,000 African Americans initially enlisted, with more than 700,000 registering after the Selective Service Act. Despite widespread willingness to serve, Black soldiers were excluded from the Marines and largely limited to segregated units, many supporting Allied forces in Europe. They served in numerous roles including infantry, engineering, medical, and transportation units. After the war, many veterans relocated from the South to northern and western cities, seeking better wages, greater opportunity, and improved social and political conditions.
This poster ultimately represents both a patriotic affirmation of African American loyalty during World War I and a poignant reminder of the sacrifice, hope, and unresolved struggle for equality experienced by Black families on the home front.
Inventory #92338