Vince Copeland (1915-1993) is a prolific American writer, activist, historian and speaker who committed his life to the labor movement and an understanding of communist principles in the United States. 1/ His work and life as a labor activist was throughout his life, including during formative years as an employee at Bethlehem Steel in Buffalo, New York. Copeland is a founder of the Workers World Party and editor of the Workers World, its newspaper and a litigant for political liberty. 2/ This vividly colored poster of Vince Copeland's lecture in Washington, D.C. at All Souls Church presents the topic of his lecture, "The Soviet Union 60 Years After the Revolution," thus dating the poster at least to c.1977-1982 as the Russian Revolution of 1917 resulted in the Russian Soviet Republic, and after a Russian civil war, formation by the Bolsheviks of the Soviet Union December 30, 1922. The poster appears to be scarce. I have not located another example.
This scarce color print poster is 20th c. American political art. As such it is Americana and in the tradition of political broadsides. The poster does not bear an artist's name, frequently the case with political poster art. The brightly colored red and fuchsia poster's symbolism is recognizable as part of the vocabulary of Socialist and Communist movement art work. 3/ This poster describes a lecture at the Unitarian All Souls Church of Washington, D.C. sponsored by "Youth Against War & Fascism and Workers World Party.Child care provided" anticipates a younger audience. This program was for the general public. The unnamed printer's labor is donated.
A current historic perspective for this poster begins with the Soviet Union's collapse and formal cessation on December 25, 1991, when President Mikhail Gorbachev resigned and Boris Yeltsin took office as President of modern Russia. The transition was peaceful. Belarus and the Ukraine had declared their independence from the Soviet Union in August, 1991. It is now 30 years later and Ukraine is again defending itself against Russian political control. Today the poster might read "90 years after the Revolution." and announce an equally provocative political lecture about Russia's status in Eastern Europe and the world.
Notes:
1. Tribute to Vince Copeland: Highlights of an outstanding thinker and fighter – Workers World
2. Copeland v. Secretary of State, 226 F. Supp. 20 (S.D.N.Y. 1964) :: Justia
Vincent Copeland, 77, Is Dead; Led Anti-War Protests in 1960's - The New York Times
3. Movements — Merrill C. Berman Collection