How a World War I Crackdown Predicted Modern ICE
Derf Backderf’s new graphic novel explores the chilling parallels between 1917 state repression and today.
1Historical Parallels in Comics
Derf Backderf’s upcoming graphic novel, The Dissidents, explores the radical Greenwich Village magazine The Masses. Set during the height of World War I, the book examines how the U.S. government utilized censorship and paramilitary groups to suppress dissent. Backderf connects these historical events to contemporary political anxieties regarding executive power and state surveillance.
2The Masses Magazine Legacy
Between 1911 and 1917, The Masses served as a primary organ for American socialist thought. It published provocative political essays, poetry, and illustrations by artists like John Sloan and George Bellows. The magazine’s commitment to radical ideas eventually led to its shutdown following the passage of the restrictive Espionage Act of 1917.
3Wilson’s Domestic Repression
President Woodrow Wilson is often celebrated for his global leadership, yet Backderf highlights his domestic record of racism and censorship. Wilson expanded government office segregation and signed the Sedition Act of 1918. He also established the Bureau of Cartoons, which enlisted popular illustrators to promote state-sanctioned censorship of political dissenters and critics.
4The American Protective League
The American Protective League acted as a consortium of violent vigilantes sanctioned by the Wilson administration. Operating under the color of law, these groups conducted unauthorized raids and arrests of pacifists and draft dodgers. Their unchecked power during the 1918 period serves as a historical precursor to modern militarized immigration enforcement agencies.
5Artistic Resistance and Persecution
Cartoonists like Art Young faced legal prosecution under the Espionage Act for their scathing indictments of capitalism. Other contributors, such as Maurice Becker, suffered imprisonment and torture in military facilities like Fort Leavenworth. These artists navigated a climate where the mainstream press frequently encouraged violence against those who questioned the war effort.
6Fictional Lens on History
The protagonist, Joe Hertle, is a fictional cartoonist created by Backderf to navigate this turbulent era. Through Hertle’s eyes, readers witness the labor movement’s struggles and the vibrant, dangerous world of the alternative press. This narrative device allows Backderf to weave historical research into a cohesive, human-centered story about artistic integrity.
7Evolution of Political Language
The book documents how social pressures forced cultural shifts, such as the renaming of German-themed comic strips like The Katzenjammer Kids. It also highlights the era's use of the term hyphenated Americans to marginalize immigrants. These linguistic tactics mirror contemporary political rhetoric used by modern conservatives to target specific cultural and ethnic groups.
8Visualizing the Radical Past
Backderf incorporates authentic illustrations and cartoons from the period, contrasting his own heavy-ink style with the black crayon work of his historical subjects. By reproducing these obscure works, the book provides a visual education on the artistic values of the early 20th century, effectively bridging the gap between past and present.
9Press Complicity and Hostility
The mainstream press during 1917 often acted as an enforcer of state ideology. The Wall Street Journal, for instance, published editorials suggesting that militant pacifists faced no shortage of lamp-posts for execution. This historical hostility toward non-hawkish voices provides a stark reminder of how media institutions can facilitate state-sanctioned political violence.
10Cycles of Political Thuggery
While the parallels to modern ICE and political polarization are unsettling, Backderf offers a sense of relief. History shows that while American society harbors a penchant for thuggery, these periods are often cyclical and eventually curbed. The book serves as a reminder that political extremes do not last forever, for better or worse.
Original article: Foreign Policy — How a World War I Crackdown Predicted Modern ICE