Created by
Thompson, Mildred Jean, American, 1936 - 2003
Subject of
Unidentified Woman or Women
Unidentified Man or Men
Date
1963
Medium
ink on wove paper
Dimensions
H x W: 18 × 24 in. (45.7 × 61 cm)
Caption
In her 1892 publication, Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All of Its Phases, civil rights activist Ida B. Wells described the insidious nature of sexual and mob violence perpetrated against Black women throughout the South. Wells recounted in disturbing detail the horrific instances where Black women were stripped naked, raped by one or multiple white men, hanged, and mutilated. Between 1880 and 1930, over 130 African American women were murdered by lynch mobs; countless others were sexually assaulted without legal recourse. Although Wells’s organization, and many other African American women and women’s groups, fought to obtain justice, the sheer number of Black women who were victimized and killed through mob violence was too often overlooked.
With this powerful work, Mildred Thompson directly depicts this history in all its horror.
Description
A pen and ink drawing depicting a scene of abstracted male figures lynching a nude female figure. The female figure is depicted in the center, hanging by the neck from a noose, her hands behind her back in a way that suggests they are bound. Surrounding her is a mob of male figures, most of them in long robes with pointed hoods that obscure their faces others are nude except for Western-style hats with center badges of the type worn by sheriffs or other law enforcement. Their facial features are abstracted, with bared teeth and leering expressions. All of the male figures wear Western-style heeled boots and are turned towards the lynched woman. One hooded and robed figure raises a Christian cross over their heads. At the lower left corner is the artist's signature [Mildred Thompson Nov 1963 New York]. There are no marks or inscriptions on the verso.
Classification
Visual Arts
Type
drawings
Topic
American South
Art
Gender
Hate crimes
Lynching
Men
Race discrimination
Race relations
Violence
White supremacy movements
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2020.57.2
Restrictions & Rights
© Mildred Thompson Estate
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5baaabf1e-0160-4fe8-b6e8-c3fca19a1846

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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