Photographic transparency of the Poor People's Campaign

Photograph by

Robert Houston, American, born 1935

Subject of

Poor People's Campaign, American, 1967 - 1968

Unidentified Child or Children

Unidentified Man or Men

Black Star, American, founded 1935

Medium

reversal film

Dimensions

H x W: 1 15/16 × 1 15/16 in. (4.9 × 4.9 cm)

Type

transparencies

portraits

Place depicted

National Mall, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

Date

May 21, 1968 - June 23, 1968

Caption

This slide is part of a collection of 35mm slides encapsulating Robert Houston's full portfolio of images related to the Poor People's Campaign and the antipoverty protest camp on the National Mall. Known as "Resurrection City," the camp lasted for six weeks in the spring of 1968.

Description

This color transparency depicts a man posing with three children. The man wears a white button down shirt under a blue blazer and khaki pants. He has sunglasses and a flat cap. There is a nametag on his left lapel with text that is illegible. He also has a necklace around his neck that is a small bust portrait of a woman. The man stands with his arms around three children standing in a row in front of him. The child on the left wears patterned pants and a grey turtleneck. The middle child wears a flowered jumper over w white short sleeve blouse. She carries a light colored purse. The third child wears an orange polka dot short sleeve shirt and patterned pants. There is a fourth child at the right edge of the image, wearing a striped shirt and red pants. She stands in profile to the viewer, with her head turned away from the camera. There are rows of A frame shelters visible in the background.

Topic

African American

Activism

Civil rights

Housing

Local and regional

Photography

Politics (Practical)

Poverty

United States--History--1961-1969

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2015.245.265

Restrictions & Rights

© Robert Houston

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture