Nowadays, the fight for social justice is an important matter. History demonstrates the pivotal moments and the persistent systemic issues. For instance, among such moments is the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century in the United States. The research question is: What historical background and significance does a photographic archive documenting the American Civil Rights Movement have?
The visual archive for the paper was retrieved from the National Archives Catalog. The oil paintings titled “Portraits of Outstanding Americans of Negro Origin” were the subject of a collection of color and black-and-white photos ordered by the Harmon Foundation (National Archives Catalog). The paintings were created between 1943 and 1963 throughout the United States (National Archives Catalog). The initial set included 22 portraits created by Laura Wheeler Waring and Betsy Graves Reyneau (National Archives Catalog).
The total number of paintings grew to 47 over time (National Archives Catalog). The photographs depict a diverse range of individuals, including the surgeon Dr. Charles Drew, educator Mary McLeod Bethune, gardener Edward Lee, and other figures who played a role in the Civil Rights Movement (National Archives Catalog). Thus, the movement’s history is evident in the archive.
Examining and interpreting this photo archive can help people better understand the Civil Rights Movement, how it affected American culture, and whether its objectives remain relevant today. According to Geimer, “photography allows for a deeper and much more detailed access to the past” (55). Moreover, Geimer highlights that photography has a “capacity to stop time in a box” (54).
In this case, the archive demonstrates the historical struggle for civil rights. Additionally, as Mitman mentions, any remnant of the past that the present does not acknowledge as one of its issues risks being lost forever (124). Thus, learning more about the archive contributes to the understanding of the historical significance of the movement and the fight for social justice.
Works Cited
Geimer, Peter. “The Colors of Evidence: Picturing the Past in Photography and Film.” Documenting the World: Film, Photography, and the Scientific Record, edited by Gregg Mitman, and Kelley Wilder, University of Chicago Press, 2016, pp. 45-64.
Mitman, Gregg. “A Journey without Maps: Film, Expeditionary Science, and the Growth of Development.” Documenting the World: Film, Photography, and the Scientific Record, edited by Gregg Mitman, and Kelley Wilder, University of Chicago Press, 2016, pp. 124-149.
National Archives Catalog. “Portraits of Outstanding Americans of Negro Origin Painted by Two Women Artists“, ca. 1943–ca. 1963.