The artwork titled “A Step in the Right Direction!!,” created in 1943 by Charles Alston, is an influential piece within the Social Realism movement. This poster utilizes bold visuals to convey a strong social message pertinent to its time.
In the artwork, a dynamic scene depicts two figures dressed in work attire, symbolizing Labor and Management, collaboratively placing a sign that reads, “WORKERS WANTED REGARDLESS OF COLOR.” The poignant contrast is highlighted as an old sign lies discarded on the ground, carrying the exclusionary message, “WORKERS WANTED WHITE ONLY.” In the background, industrial buildings with smoke rising from chimneys provide context to the wartime manufacturing economy. The text in the lower left corner references an improvement in employment opportunities for African Americans in Baltimore’s principal war plants, underscoring the socio-economic changes during that period. The title “A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!!” emphasizes the progressive stride toward racial equality in the workforce.
