Propaganda or persuasion: The Communist Party and its campaign to integrate baseball

This thesis discusses whether propaganda, persuasion or a mix of both was used in the American Communist Party's (CPUSA) campaign to integrate professional baseball. Representative articles published in the Daily and Sunday Worker sports sections from 1936 through 1947 were chosen for examination and analysis. Specifically, the use of "god," "devil," and "charismatic" terms are identified and discussed how the terms were used to educate, motivate, and activate members to participate. The use of "charismatic" terms is also examined in relationship to "Aesopian" language. The author concludes that a mix of propaganda and persuasion was used because intent of the campaign to secure new African American members was hidden from the audience. At the same time, the CPUSA also actively supported integration and consistently argued in support of this belief. In regard to "Aesopian" language, with the exception of name changes and one article from an Editorial Board member, little evidence suggests this form of propaganda was used during this particular campaign.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

1998

Author dc:creator

• Shoemaker, Martha McArdell

Contributors dc:contributor

• Richard Jensen

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/965

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-1964