The Power of Poster Board
Image Courtesy: Instagram
In January of 2019, I attended my first protest–or march, rather–in Sacramento, Calif. The march, “Women’s March Sacramento,” started in 2018 and aims to show support for a range of issues such as equal pay, LBGTQ+ rights and, ultimately, women’s rights. While at the protest, I took a picture of the state capital, which was surrounded by people holding posters and signs all saying different things. Looking at this picture three years later, I noticed a woman in the corner of the photo holding a poster that says "Here's to powerful women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.” That singular moment of this woman holding this 22x28 inch piece of stiff paper captured the essence of what that day meant to me and many other women, and whenever I look at the photo, I am reminded of the power of that moment. I have often seen poster boards as just a means to an end, something that I could use and then throw away. However, over the last 10 years, my perception of the humble poster board has changed. As I reflect on the use of posterboard, especially for marches and protests, I’ve begun to see the power and poetry that can be imbued on them.
When thinking of protest posters that I saw in my history textbooks growing up, the first thing that always comes to mind is the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. One poster in particular, which captures the power of the Movement, simply states, “I am a man.” With only four words, this sign is able to convey the message of the Civil Rights Movement. When I look at this sign, I see a call to be treated as a human being, to be treated with respect, that the phrase “all men are created equal” applies to everyone – especially African Americans. These posters are both cultural and historical artifacts, still referenced in our contemporary studies of protest and social movements. In the same way, the posters that we make for our own marches and protests today will be a piece of history.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
A simple poster board and marker can speak volumes, and the message can take form in various ways. These posters are made with care. They can be funny, or rhyme, or have a personal story attached. They also can be motivational to others in the same way that the poster from my first march, created by a woman I’ve never met, still resonates with me. Posters not only act as historical artifacts to preserve a message but also reach more people than just those around you through the prevalence of social media. It’s really remarkable how something that costs a mere $2 or $3 can have an impact and allow someone to speak volumes without vocally speaking at all.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabelle Grassel
Editors: Kimani Krienke, Will Kennedy, Mary Clare Cameron
Writing Director: David Kramer
Blog Director: Helenna Xu
Notre Dame
