Photography. ‘Through the African American Lens: Double Exposure.’
by superselected · Art, Double Exposure, Exhibitions, Good Reads, Photography, Through the African-American Lens ·

Through the African-American Lens Double Exposure
(Mamie Till at Emmett Till’s Funeral, 1955)


“Double Exposure” is the first book in the four volume series Through The African American Lens. The series, which spans from the 19th century to modern day, contains images from the 15,000 photograph collection compiled by the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. Through the African American Lens is a collection of photos of major historic significance as well as intimate portraits of daily life for African-Americans. It was created, with Deborah Willis, a pioneering African-American photographer and educator. A companion exhibition will open next month in a temporary space at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Future volumes of Through The African American Lens will focus on the civil rights movements as well as black women.


Through the African-American Lens Double Exposure
(Althea Gibson holding a Wimbledon trophy plate, 1957 )

Through the African-American Lens Double Exposure
(Sarah Vaughan, Circa 1950)

Through the African-American Lens Double Exposure
(Jacquelyn Bond and Golden Frinks singing “We Shall Overcome” at the March on Washington, 1963)

Through the African-American Lens Double Exposure
(Fannie Lou Hamer, 1960)

Through the African-American Lens Double Exposure
(Fourth of July march down Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.)

Through the African-American Lens Double Exposure
(Cabinet card of Soujourner Truth, circa 1864)


via The New York Times.