Negritenok Dzhon [Negro Boy John]. Vilnius: Gosudarstvennoe izdatelstvo khudozhestvennoi literatury litovskoi SSR, 1951.

Negritenok Dzhon [Negro Boy John]. Vilnius: Gosudarstvennoe izdatelstvo khudozhestvennoi literatury litovskoi SSR, 1951.

Black Literature in the Soviet Union

This children’s book serves as a poignant example of Soviet propaganda, specifically addressing racial equality and promoting communist ideals. An African American boy named John York leads a challenging life in the USA, marked by poverty, racial discrimination, and tragedy. The narrative of the story takes a turn when John finds refuge in the USSR, highlighting the Soviet Union’s supposed utopia, where everyone is equal and treated as a friend.

Anzel’mas Matutis, author.
Nikolai Milovanov, translator.
N. Sergeeva, illustrator.

Vilnius: Gosudarstvennoe izdatelstvo khudozhestvennoi literatury litovskoi SSR

1951.

Russian

Children's book