Photograph by
Griffith and Griffith, founded 1896
Published by
Griffith and Griffith, founded 1896
Subject of
Unidentified Child or Children
Date
1900
Medium
ink on paper (fiber product) with dye on cardboard
Dimensions
H x W (Image): 3 × 6 in. (7.6 × 15.3 cm)
H x W (Sheet): 3 7/16 × 6 7/8 in. (8.7 × 17.5 cm)
Description
A color half-tone print depicting three children holding a watermelon. This stereo card consists of two identical side by side images. In the daytime, outside of a stone faced root cellar, three dark haired boys all have their hands on a very large watermelon. From left to right: a boy in a light colored long sleeve shirt and brown pants, smiles as he touches one end of a watermelon with his proper right hand. Next to him, a boy in a bright colored long sleeve shirt smiles at the camera with his proper right hand on the watermelon. A boy wearing a yellow long sleeve jacket and dark pants crouches on his knees with both hands resting on the watermelon. All three are situated at the opening of a root cellar, green foliage to their right, and clumped dirt at their feet. Below the right image card, printed on the sheet in bold English is: I Bet dis am a Good One.”
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.
Place captured
United States, North and Central America
Classification
Racist and Stereotypical Objects
Photographs and Still Images
Type
relief halftones
stereographs
Topic
Caricature and cartoons
Foodways
Photography
Stereotypes
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Mark Miller and Barbara Smeltzer
Object number
2019.3.2
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5687a962c-83e0-4e9d-aa49-3d31867f10b1

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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