More than just eye catching, our historic posters reveal snapshots of the African American Journey.  We printed posters for Negro League baseball, Joe Louis boxing matches, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, the Globetrotters, Shirley Caesar, Martin Luther King, “Work Stop Day,” protests, Sam Cooke, Nina Simone, HBCU’s and Public Enemy.  For a century, Globe Poster was the go-to printer for entertainers, activists and promoters in black communities across the nation.  Through our research, we learned that Martin Luther King, Jr. worked at our plant in Atlanta as summer job while attending Morehouse!   We are proud to know that Dr. King and our uncle maintained a relationship over the years as our family helped him to fundraise and printed many of his Civil Rights posters, including the famous “I AM A MAN” poster.

We will include unique perspectives from civil rights scholars on Jim Crow, the Chitlin’ Circuit, segregated venues and beaches, music and entertainment historians, poster collectors, as well those who study graphic design.  The style of Globe’s posters is readily identifiable and taught to arts students to this day at the Maryland College Institute of Art (MICA).

And finally, the book will provide context to the historic events depicted in the posters with relevant newspaper headlines of the era and vignettes of athletes, entertainers and activists who helped drive the civil rights movement.  A further sense of the era is revealed with excerpts of the leading civil rights anthem songs that these performers sang.  Through these posters, PEOPLE GET READY will tell stories of Pride, Prejudice, Protest and Promise. 

Share your Globe Poster art experience with us!

Do you have memories of seeing Globe’s posters?  Did you attend those events?  Have memories you’d like to share?  Were you an entertainer we helped promote?  Are you a collector?  Were you someone who tore the posters off the poles?  (We’re flattered if you were!)  Please share your stories and join our list!