Photograph by
Unidentified
Subject of
Unidentified Man or Men
Date
1945-1950s
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (sheet): 7 7/8 × 9 3/4 in. (20 × 24.8 cm)
H x W (image): 7 5/8 × 9 1/2 in. (19.3 × 24.1 cm)
Description
A black-and-white photograph of three (3) migratory workers. The man in the center is shirtless and has a cigarette between his lips. The man on the left, in a white tank top, is holding a pack of cigarettes in his left hand. He is using one cigarette to light the other man’s. A third man on the right is wearing a hat and overalls. He is wiping a towel over the center man’s back. Two (2) buildings are partially visible in the background. Another person is looking out of the doorway. The men are identified from left to right as Raymond Jordan, Reginald Best, and Elrich Codrington. There are identifying and numerical inscriptions on the back. Paper adhered to back of the photograph has printed text which reads [WASECA – BARBADOS ISLAND STORY: / AT THE END OF A HARD DAY’S WORK….. / A SHOWER, A FAG, AND A RUB DOWN. / THESE BARBADOS NEGROES, DIRECT DESCENDANTS / OF BRITISH SLAVES, HAVE TREMENDOUS BLUE - / BLACK BODIES, XXX THE ENVY OF A SCULPTOR / THEY SPEAK IN SOFT TONES WITH A PECULIAR / BRITISH ACCENT. / L/R RAYMOND JORDAN, REGINALD BEST, ELRICH / CODRINGTON].
Place depicted
Waseca County, Minnesota, United States, North and Central America
Barbados, Caribbean, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
gelatin silver prints
Topic
Labor
Migrations
Photography
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2018.17.10.7
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5c4fc6468-c00a-4580-b3d1-86391042d7fb

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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