Legacies of Resistance in African American Art and Photography
Maya Hall
7 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers the use of photography by 19th-century Black leaders (like Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth) to challenge stereotypes and promote their image. It also examines how contemporary artists (such as Kehinde Wiley, Amy Sherald, and Bisa Butler) continue this legacy through their artwork. The guide includes visual analysis of Harriet Tubman's portraits and Bisa Butler's work, and provides practice questions covering these key concepts.
#AP African American Studies: Visualizing Black Leadership - Your Night Before Guide 🚀
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#1. Photography as a Tool for Change 📸
African American leaders in the 19th century strategically used photography to challenge negative stereotypes and assert their dignity. This was a revolutionary act, using a new technology to reshape public perception. Think of it as early 'image activism.'
#Photography as a Counter-Stereotype Tool
- Challenging Stereotypes: 19th-century Black leaders used photography to combat racist caricatures.
- Dignified Representation: They posed for formal portraits to show themselves as respectable citizens.
- Controlling the Narrative: Photography gave them agency over their own image and story.
- Examples: Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth were pioneers in this movement.
Think of it like this: Photography = Power to Portray themselves as they truly were, not as others depicted them.
Remember to connect the use of photography to broader themes of agency and resistance. This link is key for FRQs.
#Sojourner Truth's Carte-de-Visites
- Activism through Images: Truth sold her photos to fund the abolitionist movement.
- Carte-de-Visites: Small, affordable photos that were widely circulated.
- Powerful Portrayal: Her photos showed her as strong, determined, and intelligent.
- "I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance": This quote highlights her strategic use of photography for activism.
Carte-de-visites were like the social media of the 19th century – small, shareable, and impactful.
#Frederick Douglass's Photographic Legacy
- Most Photographed Man: Douglass understood the power of visual representation.
- Curated Image: He carefully crafted his image to convey intellect and sophisticat...
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