The opinions of mankind : racial issues, press, and propaganda in the Cold War / Richard Lentz and Karla K. Gower.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lentz, Richard, 1942-

Contributor:

Gower, Karla K.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Racism in the press--United States.

Racism in the press.

Race relations and the press--United States.

Race relations and the press.

Race relations and the press--Soviet Union.

Minorities--Press coverage--United States.

Minorities.

Press and propaganda--Soviet Union.

Press and propaganda.

Propaganda, Anti-American--Soviet Union.

Propaganda, Anti-American.

Public opinion--Soviet Union.

Public opinion.

United States--Race relations--Press coverage.

United States.

United States--Foreign public opinion, Soviet.

Physical Description:

vi, 349 p.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Columbia : University of Missouri Press, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

During the Cold War, the Soviets were quick to publicize any incident of racial hostility in the United States. Since violence by white Americans against minorities was the perfect foil to America's claim to be the defender of freedom, news of these occurrences was exploited to full advantage by the Russians. But how did the Soviets gain primary knowledge of race riots in small American towns? Certainly, they had reporters stationed stateside, in big cities like New York, but research reveals that most of their information came directly from U.S. media sources. Throughout this period, the American press provided the foreign media with information about racially charged events in the United States. Such news coverage sometimes put Washington at a disadvantage, making it difficult for government officials to assuage foreign reactions to the injustices occurring on U.S. soil. Yet in other instances, the domestic press helped to promote favorable opinions abroad by articulating themes of racial progress. While still acknowledging racial abuses, these press spokesmen asserted that the situation in America was improving. Such paradoxical messages, both aiding and thwarting the efforts of the U.S. government, are the subject of The Opinions of Mankind: Racial Issues, Press, and Propaganda in the Cold War. The study, by scholars Richard Lentz and Karla K. Gower, describes and analyzes the news discourse regarding U.S. racial issues from 1946 to 1965. The Opinions of Mankind not only delves into the dissemination of race-related news to foreign audiences but also explores the impact foreign perceptions of domestic racism had on the U.S. government and its handling of foreign relations during the period. What emerges is an original, insightful contribution to Cold War studies. While other books examine race and foreign affairs during this period of American history, The Opinions of Mankind is the first to approach the subject from the standpoint of press coverage and its impact on world public opinion. This exhaustively researched and compellingly written volume will appeal to media scholars, political historians, and general readers alike. By taking a unique approach to the study of this period, The Opinions of Mankind presents the workings behind the battles for public opinion that took place between 1946 and 1965. --Book Jacket.

Contents:

Introduction

Civil rights and world affairs

First Americans, last in America

Color, caste, and colonialism

Pursuing the dream

A symbol not shattered

Reverberating symbols

The scrutiny of Asia

Crisis after crisis

Riots and insurrection

Snarls echoing 'round the world

Summer of shocks

Selma and Watts

Summary and conclusions.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780826272348

0826272347

OCLC:

868217860