Some cool photos of African-Americans in the 1800s

[kwassa]

I'm not sure I buy the premise of this article, but it still results in some great pictures.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28838957

The photographer who rejected racism in the American south
By Rob Brown BBC World Service

At the turn of the 20th Century, life was incredibly difficult for the African-American community in the southern states of the US. But one self-taught photographer used his camera to challenge racial barriers and capture the diversity of the American South.

"I did not know my grandfather but I am very proud that he was able to capture these people in pictures - whether they were black or white, rich or poor, farmers or businessmen," says Martha Sumler.

In an era that was marked by growing racial discrimination and the introduction of what were known as the "Jim Crow" segregation laws, a relatively unknown photographer, Hugh Mangum, did a rare thing - he opened his doors to everyone regardless of their race, gender or how much money they had.

Starting in the 1890s, Mangum, a self-taught itinerant photographer, travelled on the railroads across North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, setting up temporary studios and taking portraits of the people he met.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. After the Civil War blacks were considered some of the finest examples of US Citizens....

That sure changed with the end of Reconstruction.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

2. Oh, oh oh I love these!

I love vintage photos, art, clothing, culture. ...it's often so WHITE. I really like seeing black Americans in another aspect we don't see often.

Somewhere on DU, there's a post and link about vintage photos of GLBT couples....such a great collection.

[roguevalley]

4. I agree. Excellent stuff isn't it? By the way,

I live to see your cat two stepping. It makes me laugh every time.

[avaistheone1]

3. Beautiful photos.

[Nay]

5. That first young woman wearing white is ethereally beautiful -- I went to the

link and scrolled through all of the photos and got all nostalgic (can you get nostalgic for an era you didn't live in?) over the clothing and hair cuts.

[toby jo]

6. She is. Looks to have some native American blood going on, too.

[carolinayellowdog]

7. I went to the Durham Museum of History just to see these

after it was featured on North Carolina Weekend.

Well worth the trip.