Double V
The Double V campaign, initiated by the Pittsburgh Courier in February 1942, was a national effort to advocate for African American rights during World War II. The campaign promoted the idea of a "double victory": one abroad against fascism and the Axis powers, and at home against racism and discrimination.
Despite their service and sacrifices during the war, African Americans continued to face systemic inequalities, including discrimination in employment, segregation in military, and denial of civil rights. In response, the campaign sought to address the contradiction between fighting for democracy in overseas campaigns while being denied full citizenship at home.
The idea for the campaign originated from a letter written by James G. Thompson of Wichita, Kansas, published on January 31, 1942. In the letter, Thompson refers to the "V for victory" sign prominently displayed by countries fighting "for victory over aggression, slavery, and tyranny," but proposes the adoption of a second 'V' for African Americans fighting for freedom overseas and at home, "the first V for victory over our enemies from without, the second V for victory over our enemies from within." Pitched as "Democracy – Double Victory, At Home – Abroad," the campaign highlighted the risks Black soldiers and civilians took while participating in America's struggle against the Axis powers while being denied their rights as full American citizens back home.
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