UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1998 Propaganda or persuasion: The Communist Party and its campaign to integrate baseball Martha McArdell Shoemaker University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Shoemaker, Martha McArdell, "Propaganda or persuasion: The Communist Party and its campaign to integrate baseball" (1998). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 965. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/gnc4-o8wo This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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PROPAGANDA OR PERSUASION; THE COMMUNIST PARTY AND ITS CAMPAIGN TO INTEGRATE BASEBALL by Martha McArdell Shoemaker Bachelor of Arts California State University at Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 1991 Master of Arts University of Nevada, Las V ^as 1999 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment O f the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Degree Greenspun Department of Communication Studies Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas M ay 1999 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ÜMJ Number: 1393926 Copyright 1999 by Shoemaker, Martha McArdell All rights reserved. UMI Microform 1393926 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition Is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © 1999 Martha McArdell Shoemaker All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval UNIV The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas March 75 19_5 9. The Thesis prepared by _____________ Martha McArdell Shoemaker Entitled Propaganda Or Persuasion: The Communist Party AnH Tts Campaign To Integrate Baseball is approved in peirtial fulfillment of the requirements for die degree of Master of Arts in Communication Studies__________ Committee Chair Dean o f ^fC raduate College /. Examination Committee Member ination Committee Number jraduate College Faculty Representative U Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Propaganda or Persuasion: The Communist Party And Their Campaign To Integrate Baseball By Martha McArdell Shoemaker Dr. Richard Jensen, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Communication Studies University of Nevada, Las Vegas 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 o f “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 «camined 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. lU Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................ iü ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................... v CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................1 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE..................................................... 7 Rhetorical W orks.............................................................................................................7 Historical W orks............................................................................................................ 10 Jackie Robinson and Integration................................................................................... 15 Lester Rodney, Sports Editor........................................................................................ 22 The Target Audience - African Americans ................................................................. 26 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY........................................................................................ 31 CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS.................................................................................................... 38 Article Topic and Sports Section Format.....................................................................39 Jim C ro w........................................................................................................................42 Hitler and Fascist .......................................................................................................... 48 Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis and Branch Rickey ................................................ 52 Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson .............................................................................. 59 American and Democracy.............................................................................................72 Aesopian Language....................................................................................................... 79 Discussion.......................................................................................................................86 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND FURTHER RESEARCH......................................... 91 Further Research ........................................................................................................... 95 APPENDICES.......................................................................................................................99 Time L in e ..................................................................................................................... 100 Human Subject Protocol Sheet................................................................................... 103 REFERENCE LIST............................................................................................................. 104 VITA..................................................................................................................................... 117 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This paper could not have been completed without the help of many people. First, I would especially like to thank Dr. Richard Jensen, my Committee Chair whose knowledge, guidance, accessibility, and humor throughout this task was crucial to its completion.