Reflections in Black:
Smithsonian African American Photography: Art and Activism
Curated by Deborah Willis
Organized by the Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution
Charles "Chuck" Stewart, Portrait of John Coltrane, jazz tenor, and soprano saxophonist, and Alice Coltrane, pianist, organist, harpist, and composer, 1966
Jonathan Eubanks, Black Panther party member, Oakland, 1969
Robert L. Haggins, Malcom X with Muhammed Ali in Harlem after winning the championship, 1964
This exhibition highlights the crucial role African American photographers played during the formative years of the civil rights and Black Power movements in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Through powerful images of rallies, marches, and key figures like Malcolm X and H. Rap Brown, these photographers documented a pivotal era in American history.
Moving beyond traditional photojournalism, they embraced narrative and metaphor to challenge stereotypes and raise awareness. Many connected the American struggle for equality to the broader African diaspora, framing civil rights as part of a global movement for justice. These artists saw themselves as "graphic historians," capturing a visual record of African American life that emphasized empowerment, individuality, and cultural pride.
The exhibition features works by Moneta Sleet Jr., Charles “Chuck” Stewart, Ernest Withers, and others, whose photography not only chronicled resistance and hope but also served as a tool for social and artistic transformation.
WORKS
137
DIMENSIONS
16 x 20 to 36 x 26 (inches)
SPACE REQUIREMENTS
Aprox. 500 linear feet
INQUIRIES
exhibitions@curatorial.org
626.577.0044