-Globe Bank- still bank c. mid 20th century

This is -Globe Bank-, a still bank of painted metal made by the Ohio Art Company. The globe sits on a red base that has a very clear message: "Save so you prosper." Banks such as these were common household objects, and are a lens through which we can explore the development of global capitalism and consumer culture. As families put away their pennies, they were also taught a worldview which situated America at the top. I wonder how a child, seeing Africa so prominently displayed on this globe, might internalize a message of American superiority? It is interesting to think about how the simple act of saving money was thus intertwined with ideas about national identity and global power dynamics. We might ask, who really prospers?