Photograph by
Dr. Simmons, Ron, American, 1950 - 2020
Subject of
Hemphill, Essex, American, 1957 - 1995
Date
1981
Medium
reversal film and plastic
Dimensions
H x W: 2 × 2 in. (5.1 × 5.1 cm)
Description
A color photographic slide featuring poet Essex Hemphill sitting in front of a chess board. The photograph was captured at a celebration for the second anniversary of Blacklight magazine in Washington, DC. Hemphill dons a white shirt with white buttons and thin white stripes intersecting at right angles, creating small squares. He is also wearing khaki pants. He smiles as he leans towards the camera with his hands folded and his elbows on his knees. Mostly white chess pieces are visible on the board itself, however, a brown bishop and queen also on the table, in front of Hemphill, but to the side of the chess board (probably captured by Hemphill). The slide is housed in a white encasement with a [CPS LTD] logo and [WASHINGTON D.C. 202-452-1044] printed on the reverse.
Place depicted
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
The Ron Simmons Photography Collection
Classification
Archival Collections
Photographs and Still Images
Type
color slides
Topic
Activism
Civil rights
Identity
LGBTQ
Sexuality
U.S. History, 1969-2001
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Ron Simmons
Object number
TA2019.38.1.1.1.8
Restrictions & Rights
© Ron Simmons
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd52687a724-3159-44cb-9d55-fd521a959c34

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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