Rockwell, Roosevelt and the 4 Freedoms - More Depth to Norman Rockwell's Work than Thanksgiving Dinner

For those who don't recall the 4 Freedoms that Pres. Roosevelt promoted as propaganda for going to war, you'll likely recall Norman Rockwell's iconic painting of an all white American family gathered at a table laden with food and a robust, elderly woman holding a large turkey on a platter.   This idyllic picture of a blissful holiday gathering is "Freedom from Want".  "Freedom from Want" is one of the 4 Freedoms Roosevelt referred to on his radio talks to rally our nation to causes worth sending our troops to protect.  The 4 Freedoms include "Freedom of Speech," "Freedom of Worship" and  "Freedom from Fear."  Although Pres. Roosevelt's famous line in his 1933 inauguration speech "We have nothing to fear but fear itself," his 4 Freedoms Speech in his Jan. 1941 State of the Union Message didn't resonate.  Pres. Roosevelt intended to steer our country away from isolationist polices following WWI and rouse Americans to the values we hold most dearly.  Norman Rockwell conveyed these slogans into the American conscience with his paintings seen on the covers of the "Saturday Evening Post" in 1943.  Rockwell admitted "Somehow I just didn't get my head around it {Roosevelt's messaging} until I sat in on a town meeting."  He said a man voiced an unpopular opinion but allotted respect to voice his views without interruption or contempt.  This inspired Rockwell to paint the strong visual images that conveyed Roosevelt's messaging into the mass psyche.   Rockwell had criticism for 2 of his works in this group.  He felt "smug" with "Freedom from Fear" knowing the blitz on London.  And, had misgivings with "Freedom from Want" realizing hunger was rampant during the war.  The art critics were not kind to Rockwell considering his talents wasted on banal, overly sentimental & kitchy subject matter.  I was cynical expecting to see a homogenous collection of idyllic & playful depictions of white America albeit knowing his painting "The Problem We all Live With." It portrays Ruby Bridges being escorted into school in LA by the Nat'l Guard amidst violent protests against integration.  A young student seeing the painting said he was impressed by how "unfazed" the girl looks.  Ms. Bridges was taught alone in a class for a year because the white parents forbade integrating the classrooms.  Rockewell's paintings take a massive turn in subject during the 60s civil rights movement.  While working for LOOK mag. he painted scenes of civil unrest.  "Murder in MS" (1965) is a haunting painting marking the murders of the 3 civil rights workers. The ominous shadows of the heinous KKK loom over the slain bodies.  Rockwell refused a commission for a recruitment poster for the Viet Nam War because he opposed the war.   Rockwell's work has more depth & social significance than the carefree images he's most famously associated.