# Iconic raised fist propaganda-poster image - where did it first appear? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 9, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-raised-fist-propaganda-poster-image-where-did-it-first-appear/581253 "2011-05-09T10:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-raised-fist-propaganda-poster-image-where-did-it-first-appear/581253/1 "2011-05-09T10:46:44Z")
The well-known and much-recycled image of a raised fist, usually red/black/white silkscreen style presentation. Where did this image originate? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-raised-fist-propaganda-poster-image-where-did-it-first-appear/581253/2 "2011-05-09T10:56:25Z")
[The Raised Fist.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raised_fist) Basically, it originated with German communists in the 1920’s, became popular in the Spanish Civil War as a Republican symbol, and was eventually adopted by the Black Panthers in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-raised-fist-propaganda-poster-image-where-did-it-first-appear/581253/3 "2011-05-09T12:11:56Z")
Thanks. Not sure why that eluded all of my attempts to search for it myself - maybe because it’s been re-used so widely. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-raised-fist-propaganda-poster-image-where-did-it-first-appear/581253/4 "2011-05-09T12:36:43Z")
The first image that came to mind when I saw the OP was [this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c8/Carlos-Smith.jpg), so I googled “black power salute” and worked backwards from there. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-raised-fist-propaganda-poster-image-where-did-it-first-appear/581253/5 "2011-05-09T12:49:24Z")
I can see how it didn’t become a media image until the 1920s, but a raised fist is a pretty universal symbol of solidarity. Clenched raised fist is a unified front of aggression (or against it) where as a clenched fist at a person is more like, “I’m gonna hurt you!” A clenched fist is aggressive…unless you’re signing ASL and not looking like you’re about to hit someone. tee-hee ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-raised-fist-propaganda-poster-image-where-did-it-first-appear/581253/6 "2011-05-09T18:55:20Z")
Dunno. I assumed it would have its origins symbolising holistic strength (in a work-harder context, or something) - because it’s a raised, rather than thrown fist.