so much of the social, economic and political problems in the United States were criticized by the Soviets in their propaganda cartoons. Some of them are 50 or 60 years old but are still relevant. I recommend watching this adaption of Mayakovsky's Poem "Black and White" from 1933

In 1922, Mayakovsky received special permission to travel to America. En route he stopped in Cuba where Americans controlled the sugar and tobacco industries. The animation in “Black and White” is based on his drawings from the exploitation of non-whites in America and Cuba.

“Black and White” tells the story of Willie, the shoe shine boy, who makes the fatal mistake of asking the White Sugar King Mister Bragg, “Why should white sugar be made by a black man?” Only fragments of the film were found, without restorable sound.

It was decided to underscore the fragments with excerpts from “Sometimes I feel like a Motherless Child,” recorded by Paul Robeson. The son of an American slave, Robeson was an athlete, actor, singer, cultural scholar, author, and political activist. He spoke fluent Russian.

Although he never officially joined the Communist party, he supported the USSR politically which brought him to the attention of the House Un-American Activities Committee, and ultimately probably cost him his American career. In 1952 Robeson was awarded the Stalin Peace Prize.

The Soviet propaganda machine glorified Robeson almost as an achievement of the International Revolution. But for the Soviet people he was a good friend from America. During a time of oppression and Stalin terror, here came this good-spirited, free person from the United States.