Photograph by
Platon, British, born 1968
Subject of
Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968
Date
2010; printed 2019
Medium
pigment on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 15 15/16 × 21 7/16 in. (40.5 × 54.5 cm)
H x W (sheet): 20 × 24 in. (50.8 × 61 cm)
H x W (matted): 22 × 28 in. (55.9 × 71.1 cm)
Description
A black-and-white photograph of the ticker tape announcing the shooting of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., by Platon. The ticker tape is centered against a black background. Small, centered, printed black text reads [– – – REPEATING BY REQUEST – – – / UPI-201 / (KING) / MEMPHIS, TENN – – DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAS SHOT OUTSIDE / A MEMPHIS HOTEL THIS AFTERNOON. HIS CONDITION WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY / KNOWN. / 4/4– –TS714PES / END REPEAT / UPI-204 / ADD 1 KING, MEMPHIS (UPI- / UPI-204 / ADD 2 KING, MEMPHIS / DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WAS / SHOT AND CRITICALLY WOUNDED LATE TODAY AS HE SAT IN A CAR IN FRONT / OF A DOWNTOWN HOTEL. / 4/4– –TS735PES]. The top left corner of the ticker tape appears to be slightly crumpled. The background of the photograph is bright white. The photograph has a thick white border. The edition number, [5/12], is printed in the bottom left corner. The photographer’s signature and date, [Platon 19], is handwritten in the bottom right corner. Inside the border, at the bottom center, is the photographer’s embossed mark: [PLATON ? / EDITIONED ? / PRINT ?[encircled between two bands of embossed dots]]. The back of the photograph is plain and white.
Place printed
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Place captured
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
pigment prints
Topic
Activism
American South
Civil rights
Hate crimes
Photography
U.S. History, 1961-1969
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Platon
Object number
2021.33.22
Restrictions & Rights
© Platon
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ab163856-78ff-45aa-a2a0-d6c62066468b

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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