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In this black and white photograph, Brathwaite focused on the figures’ intense gazes, which work to convey the life of the mind. In a group of men wearing stylish hats or sunglasses, one woman occupies the center. She is simply dressed in a white blouse and skirt, and her hair is pulled back in a neat bun. She clutches a folded New York Times Magazine, further hinting at her interest in serious ideas.
The setting is unclear, but a blurred sign above their heads suggests that they are standing on a street in front of a row of shops and small businesses. The setting, however, is less important than the laser-focus of their attention, their dignified appearance, and the sense of community conveyed by their gathering together for this important event.
ProvenancePhilip Martin Gallery
Exhibition History2023
Still I Rise: The Black Experince at Reynolda
Reynolda House Museum of American Art
DepartmentAmerican Art
Untitled (Garvey Day Parade - Harlem)
Artist
Kwame Brathwaite
(1938 - 2023)
Datec. 1967
Mediumarchival pigment print
DimensionsImage: 30 × 30 in. (76.2 × 76.2 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds provided by Lisa and Alan Caldwell, Terrie and John Davis, Cathleen and Ray McKinney, Dr. Amy McMichael-Thomas and Ralph Thomas, Scottie and David Neill, Mr. Olle and Dr. Emily Röstlund, and Gwynne and Dan Taylor.
CopyrightCourtesy of the artist and Philip Martin Gallery, Los Angeles
Object number2022.3.1
DescriptionPhotographer Kwame Brathwaite documented the lives of African Americans on the streets of Harlem and the Bronx, in jazz clubs, in parks, and on beaches. He invested his subjects with dignity and stature and portrayed them engaging with serious pursuits. In this image of a crowd gathered at the Marcus Garvey Day Parade in Harlem in 1967, Brathwaite captured a group of attractive young people listening intently to one of the parade’s speakers. Garvey Day is a celebration of Pan-Africanism, but also a reflection of the political activist who inspired it. Marcus Garvey advocated for economic liberation and freedom from colonialism for Africa and the entire African diaspora. The speakers at this parade would have focused on these themes.In this black and white photograph, Brathwaite focused on the figures’ intense gazes, which work to convey the life of the mind. In a group of men wearing stylish hats or sunglasses, one woman occupies the center. She is simply dressed in a white blouse and skirt, and her hair is pulled back in a neat bun. She clutches a folded New York Times Magazine, further hinting at her interest in serious ideas.
The setting is unclear, but a blurred sign above their heads suggests that they are standing on a street in front of a row of shops and small businesses. The setting, however, is less important than the laser-focus of their attention, their dignified appearance, and the sense of community conveyed by their gathering together for this important event.
ProvenancePhilip Martin Gallery
Exhibition History2023
Still I Rise: The Black Experince at Reynolda
Reynolda House Museum of American Art
Status
Not on view