Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division. Reproduced with permission from Joyce Hansen.

Austin Hansen

The irony of fighting a war for democracy abroad while suffering the injustices of racial discrimination and segregation at home was not lost on many African Americans during World War II. Seeing the war as an opportunity to strengthen their demands for equality, the NAACP, the black press, the National Urban League, and other organizations launched the "Double V" campaign, which stood for victory over Axis fascism abroad and victory over racism at home. Pictured is a "Double V for Victory" rally in Harlem.