1950 Superman Poster Fought Prejudice, Not Villains
In 1950, the Institute For American Democracy, a branch of the New York-based Anti-Defamation League, distributed a Superman poster to schoolchildren that encouraged them to oppose discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin. The artwork features Superman engaging with a group primarily composed of white boys and asserts that such discriminatory views are "UN-AMERICAN," promoting the idea of maintaining "ALL-AMERICAN" schools. Recently, this poster, initially printed on low-quality paper, has appeared in vibrant color on social media. The article highlights that the 66-year-old illustration could be modernized to represent more girls, children with disabilities, and children of color. Superman, depicted as a figure of tolerance, is a refugee from the planet Krypton. This piece was first published in 2017.
Key facts
- Superman poster distributed in 1950 by Institute For American Democracy, an offshoot of the Anti-Defamation League.
- Poster shows Superman speaking to a crowd of mostly white boys.
- Poster text urges students to tell anyone speaking against a schoolmate because of religion, race, or national origin that such talk is un-American.
- Poster was originally printed on cheap paper and distributed to school children.
- A full-color version of the 66-year-old illustration has been circulating on social media.
- Article suggests the poster could be updated to include more girls, children with disabilities, and children of color.
- Superman is described as a refugee from the planet Krypton.
- The article originally appeared on Open Culture in 2017.
Entities
Artists
- Superman
Institutions
- Institute For American Democracy
- Anti-Defamation League
- Open Culture
Locations
- New York
- United States