Photograph by
Robert Houston, American, 1935 - 2021
Subject of
Poor People's Campaign, American, 1967 - 1968
Unidentified Man or Men
Unidentified Child or Children
Black Star, American, founded 1935
Date
May 21, 1968 - June 23, 1968
Medium
reversal film
Dimensions
H x W: 1 15/16 × 1 15/16 in. (4.9 × 4.9 cm)
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 tossing a small child through the air to another man. A group of four men stand on the National Mall in a loose circle. One man, wearing a dark jacket and grey pants, is in the act of tossing a small child into the air. The child wears a blue shirt, black jacket ad brown pants. A second man standing several feet away reaches out his arms to catch the child. We wears a brown jacket, grey pants and a brown hat. Two other men are part of the circle, both standing with their hands in the pockets. One man wears a dark grey overcoat and grey pants, the other wears a dark blue jacket, pants, and flat cap. A fifth man observes at a distance, wearing a blue button down shirt, khaki pants, black jacket and dark hat. Behind the men are several A frame shelters. One shelter has text in red paint covering the sides. A man in a blue sweater and khaki pants kneels next to the shelter, paintbrush in hand. The Washington Monument is visible in the background.
Place depicted
National Mall, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Media Arts-Photography
Movement
African American - Latinx Solidarity
Poor People's Campaign
Type
transparencies
Topic
Activism
Black geographies
Civil rights
Housing
Local and regional
Photography
Politics
Poverty
U.S. History, 1961-1969
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.245.279
Restrictions & Rights
© Robert Houston
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5b4a00897-f45c-487a-bfa9-63ec0902c280

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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