- Photograph by
- Unidentified
- Subject of
- Unidentified Child or Children
- Date
- ca. 1895
- Medium
- albumen and silver on paper mounted on cardboard
- Dimensions
- H x W (Image): 4 1/8 x 6 5/16 in. (10.5 x 16 cm)
- H x W (Card): 5 3/8 x 7 5/16 in. (13.7 x 18.6 cm)
- Description
- An albumen print on cabinet card depicting two (2) African American boys eating watermelon. The photograph shows the boys seated on either side of a wooden crate; the text "Coons and Melons" appears in the image on the side of the crate. Each boy holds a partially eaten slice of watermelon. Four (4) additional slices sit on the crate and more rest in front. Both boys are wearing hats, long-sleeved shirts, vests, and short pants. Their clothing is ragged, their legs appear dirty, and their feet are bare. The photograph is faded with a yellowish tint and mounted on a cabinet card that has a hole at the center just above the image.
- Statement
- Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
- Classification
- Media Arts-Photography
- Racist and Stereotypical Objects
- Type
- cabinet photographs
- albumen prints
- portraits
- Topic
- Children
- Foodways
- Photography
- Stereotypes
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Norman and Sandra Lindley
- Object number
- 2013.117.6
- Restrictions & Rights
- Public domain
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.