The Phoblographer has always believed in inclusivity and promoted the works of photographers from often marginalized communities. This Black History Month, we are bringing another significant feature that looks at the valuable contribution of Black photographers who have shaped American history through their spellbinding images. We hope their stories and photographs inspire you to understand the power of inclusivity today.
All images in the article are screenshots.
Table of Contents
James Van Der Zee
Born in 1886 in Massachusetts, James relocated to Harlem with his wife in 1916, where he set up a successful photo studio. Although he initially worked as a photographer during World War I, he later became a significant figure in the Harlem Renaissance movement. This was the period when African American culture excelled in varied fields such as literature, music, stage performance, and art.
Amidst such evolution, James not only documented the figure but also became a part of it. He photographed names such as poet Countee Cullen, dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, boxer Joe Louis, and black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Through his double negatives and mastery in retouching, James epitomized the spirit and the people of that time. The portraits show the subjects with empathy and dignity, creating a comprehensive visual record of the golden period gone by.
Ernest Withers
Ernest C. Withers initially pursued police training and became one of the state’s first African American police officers. However, eventually, he gravitated to photography, setting up Withers Photography Studio with his family. What made him one of the significant Black photographers was his role in chronicling the life of Memphis, especially the African American community, after World War II. His photographs included scenes of daily life, segregation, the music scene, Negro League baseball as well as the Civil Rights movement. In 2013, it was revealed that he was working with the FBI as an informal, which cast a shadow on his reputation since he was considered an ally of the Civil Rights movement. However, despite the complications, his images depict the struggles and wins of the community and are today studied by many for his significant documentation.
Carrie Mae Weems
Carrie Mae Weems had varied jobs before she picked up her camera in 1974. Weems is one of the pioneering female Black Photographers who used the medium to transcend traditional boundaries. Her series documented family dynamics while highlighting the African American experience, such as the impact of migration on Black families. Her work is diverse, where she uses photography alongside video, text, and textiles to portray cultural identity, family dynamics, sexism, class, and political power. Today, her photography has contributed immensely to not just the medium but also what it means to be African American.
Gordon Parks
Gordon Parks has been one of the most instrumental Black Photographers who helped shape American history. A self-taught photographer, Parks’ portraits of the African American community made him one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. His style of photography depicted the human condition with empathy and dignity. As he once famously said: “I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs.” Some of his iconic images are American Gothic (1942) and Emerging Man (1952), both of which depict race, discrimination, and the impact of social issues on individuals. It was his social commentary that made him the first African American staff photographer for Life magazine, and gradually, he used the camera to advance the civil rights movement.
Don Hogan Charles
Don Hogan Charles dropped out of engineering school to pursue photography. Little did he know that his passion would lead him to be the first Black photographer for The New York Times. Charles is notable for his contribution to the Civil Rights movement, which solidified his legacy. Furthermore, he risked his life to document the segregation in the South during the 1960s and the 1970s, as well as capture evocative images of Malcolm X and Coretta Scott King. In fact, Charles’ ability to adapt and chronicle the diverse moments of the era helped many to understand the beauty of the Black community. To many, his photographs depict how the Black community helped to shape New York and resonate with many Americans today.
Florestine Perrault Collins
Born in 1895, Florestine opened her first studio after her marriage. This marked a significant in her life, especially since she was working as a photography assistant in New OrleansBorn in 1895. In 1920, when the US census was done, it was released that Florestine was the only African American woman listed as a photographer in New Orleans, making her the 101 woman to do so in the entire United States. Her reputation was cemented through her newspaper ads, which also set her apart from her male protagonists. In addition to documenting family portraits, she chronicled weddings, solo portraits, and the city’s daily life. In her career spanning 30 years, Florestine’s work helped to preserve the city’s culture and community. Her contributions to photography remain significant in understanding the African American experience in early 20th-century New Orleans.
Lorna Simpson
One of the prominent Black photographers in conceptual photography, Lorna creates works that examine themes of gender, identity, culture, and history. For instance, one of the works created in the early 1990s uses both photos and text and explores societal norms and narrow views of gender and identity. The sitters in her portraits are common people, which enables viewers to ponder over how culture and gender can influence one’s experiences. With time, her photographs are created as multi-panel prints, which highlight moments of sexual encounter to understand memory and representation.