Collecting Old Magazines: KEN Part II
07.01.08 By The DeanMost of my interest in old magazines reflects on the décor, fashion, and ads from the era in which they were published. The KEN Magazine from the late 1930’s, while having some advertising, was mostly a political venue for ranting against governments, social injustices, and the growing menace of Nazi Germany.
In the July 14, 1938 issue, Volume 2, No. 1, the full page picture section features movie stars and pictures of life in Black America with reference to “The Negro You Never Know.”
The June 2, 1938 issue hit me with an article or quiz to rate the reader with the title “Are you Red, White or Blue?” Each question has 3 to 5 answers and checking one answer to each question would rate the reader as conservative, right liberal, left liberal or radical. The higher the response number, the more liberal the reader (see score after each answer below).
At a time when our nation is heading to National elections and we will be faced with maps on TV Network News proclaiming blue states and red states, I found this quiz immensely interesting, but preplexed by the choice of answers.
Here are some examples of the questions with choices of responses and the scoring points.
Section I – Peace and War.
-When war threatens in other parts of the world, the policy of the United States should be to:
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Refuse to take part with other countries with any attempt to prevent war (2)
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Consult with other nations for the prevention of war. (5)
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Act together with other nations for the prevention of war. (5)
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Join with other nations in whatever steps may be necessary to check war (10)
-I believe that the best means of settling world problems are
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War (2)
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Cooperation among nations for the prevention of war, directed against those provoking war (5)
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Policy of isolation (2)
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More even distribution of raw materials (5)
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World Socialism (10)
Section II - Government and Business
When big business threatens the welfare of the nation by its tactics, the government should
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Caution and warn them (2)
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Impose a severe tax penalty (5)
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Nationalize them by taking them over completely (10)
Section III – Concepts of State
Under which of the following descriptions of the state would you like to live?In the state where:
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Each citizen is born free and equal and each citizen can better himself through his own spirit of competition and acquisition. (2)
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Each citizen is to elevate himself to the heights of the national consciousness and to lose completely his own identity in it, wherein the state is supreme. (5)
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Each citizen is supported by and will labor for the state on a planned economy according to his strength, his talent and his age. (10)
Our quiz-taker proved to be a left liberal, whatever that means.
When looking through mid-30’s magazines, we often see references or logos for the NRA, which then referred to the Depression Era “National Recovery Administration.”
Later, during WWII, ads urged conservation,
self-reliance,
and supporting the war effort with savings bonds.
So you see, while KEN was radical, our magazines have often supplied political agendas beside wonderful Coke and soap ads.
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Article Tags: Black American, NRA, Pennsylvania Oil, Red & Blue States, Savings Bonds, War Bonds================
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