Images can convey a message by telling an entire story without saying a single word. This picture contains numerous threads to follow, but the real message of the story is hope. Hope for good against evil, hope for African American’s, and hope for a better future.

It is obvious that the men in this photograph are some sort of representatives for their countries: the black man wearing a “USA” sweatshirt is an American, the man on the left has Japan’s flag on his sweatshirt meaning he is Japanese, and the man on the right is clearly performing the infamous Nazi salute making him a German. The men are standing on uneven pedestals with the American being above the other two who seem to be even. They are most likely athletes competing in the Olympics and the image being depicted is a medal presentation ceremony. In most cases in the Olympics, the first place winner is in the middle, second place slightly lower on one side, and third below both on the opposite side. In this photo it seems that the Japanese man and the German are even, but it is clear that the American is above them both. By the looks of this image, it could be assumed that the American won the competition while the other two competitors tied.

The Nazi salute by the assumed German man proves that this photo was taken in the 1930s or early 1940s, when the Nazi’s were the governing body of Germany. The salute proves the time period which means that World War II was most likely occurring during this time. The Civil Rights Movement had not taken place at this point in time which means that the African American in this picture was competing, and obviously winning, for a country that had yet to grant him his basic rights as an American citizen. The American is standing tall in victory above representatives of the USA’s two biggest rivals in the war. 

The crowd and competitors are all facing in one direction. It is likely that their attention is directed towards a flag of some sort. There is really no way of telling what flag it is that the people are studying but it could very well be the Nazi flag considering the German has his hand out and up doing his best Nazi salute. If the flag is in fact the Nazi flag, then it could be assumed that the games are taking place in Germany. 

The intended audience of this picture could be the American people. The photograph depicts an American triumphing over a German and a Japanese man. Germany and Japan both were a part of the Axis Powers, the enemy alliance of the United States in World War II. This image could be used as propaganda to promote Nationalism; it depicts America’s dominance over its enemies. The image is extremely powerful because of the hope it provides to Americans, but it is even more significant because, as mentioned above, it is most likely in Germany. Not only is this American man beating two of the world’s largest powerhouse evils at the time, he accomplished it on the infamous German soil. Another factor of the picture that ties in with the American people is the inequality between races which was prominent in America at the time. An African American, already an underdog because of his skin tone, is standing above his competition. This very well could be a message to the African American people of the time period as a sense of encouragement to begin to fight for their rights as American citizens. It also could be conveying a message to the racist white supremacists of the country by proving that the black man is able to do anything that the white man can do. This picture could be used to bring the American people together over issues that were dividing them internally and internationally. 

What really drew me to this image was the message that I believe it is sending to people. The picture does not just depict an American man standing above two men in victory, it displays hope. People of the United States of America see this picture during the time this photo was taken and see that there is hope for the Nation. The African American in this photo is not just giving hope of defeating the horrible evil that Americans were facing or about to face, he is giving hope to all people of color during a time when they did not have much of anything to be hopeful for. The man is in a land that is more than likely not very fond of Americans, especially African Americans. He is standing tall and unafraid in front of a home crowd that does not even know him but could very well hate him.

While viewing this image, the spectator can feel the power of the message it is sending. Hope is a very powerful idea that can change the course of just about anything in this world. Whether the viewer sees this image as a promise for a country in the midst of a World War, possible changes in equality for all people, or just a chance for a better future, the central message of this photograph is definitely hope. 
