Figure 1.--This photograph was taken in South Carolina, we think durng the 1890s. The black boy and his family probably worked for the white family. Until the turn-of-the 20th century and the Great Migration, most blacks lived in rural areas of the Southeast. Notice the coon hound. We are not sure what the boy is holding. These old photographs are fascinating historical documents. The streotype of the South in this period is a hateful supression of blacks. But this photograph does not exhibit hate. Photography at the time was not cheap. Yet the boy is posed in the foreground. This suggests a degree of affection that is often absent in discussions of race relations.

This photograph was taken in South Carolina, we think durng the 1890s. From the background we cazn tell it is a family farm. The family is about to set offon a buckboard trip, perhaps to church on Sunday. The black boy and his family probably worked for the white family. Until the turn-of-the 20th century and the Great Migration, most blacks lived in rural areas of the Southeast. Notice the coon hound. We are not sure what the boy is holding. These old photographs are fascinating historical documents. The streotype of the South in this period is a hateful supression of blacks. But this photograph does not exhibit hate. Photography at the time was not cheap. Yet the boy is posed in the foreground. This suggests a degree of affection that is often absent in discussions of race relations. I suspect that even people who had negative attitudes toward blacks in general might have those views moderated somewhat by individual relations.

A reader writes, "The boy in the photo very probably is the son of a family servant, and he likely helps the family by doing odd jobs. I agree that this family thinks well of the boy, and most likely his parents, also. The family may have thought taking his photograph would be a treat for him, and they would show him his photo and perhaps even have a copy made for him. I'm not sure either, what he's holding in his hand. Possibly, because he is photographed with the object in his hand, there is some significance to it; it was the reason for taking his picture. The virulent racial hostility that many associate with the deep South probably was not shared by the white family in the background. More likely, they thought this boy and his family were good and dependable people. It was rare, I'd say, for most white Southern families in those days to perceive African-Americans as social equals, but many whites felt very kindly, if a little paternalistic, towards African-American friends. My grandparents who lived in a small Louisiana town would give food and hand-me-down clothes to African-American maids or cooks who had helped them, along with some compensation. My guess is that if we could identify what the boy is holding, that might give us a clue about this particular photo."

Another reader writes, "Yes, knowing someone or having a friend who is a member of a minority group makes a person more tolerant of a group in general. When we discuss civil rights in my classes, and the discussion turns to gay Americans, so many students bring out that knowing gay people, or Hispanics, or other minorities changes our views. The old preconceptions seem ridiculous. WIsh I could think of more about the old photo. One thing that was curious to me is why the picture was taken by the wagon, and the lady was sitting in the wagon."

Created: 2:44 AM 11/17/2009
Last updated: 9:57 PM 11/25/2009