Rare and very interesting photos
- Thread starter Alumni
- Start date
Performers during their act on amateur night in front of large crowd at the Apollo Theater on 125th St. in Harlem. 1944
Chicago 1960.
Vintage 1960’s-1970’s hair advertisements.
Trinidad and Tobago. 1975
William Still 1821-1902
William Still was born in Burlington County, New Jersey. His father, Levin Steel, had been enslaved, purchased his own freedom, and changed his name to Still to protect his wife, Sidney. Mrs. Still had tried to escape once before she succeeded, but could only bring two of her children with her. William Still had little formal education, but studied whenever he could. In 1844, William moved to Philadelphia.
In 1847, he found a job as a clerk and janitor for the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery. He soon began aiding fugitive slaves, often sheltering them until they could find their way farther north. One fugitive was his older brother, Peter, who had been left behind when his mother escaped forty years earlier. These experiences led William to save careful records about the people he helped. Meanwhile, Still purchased real estate, opened a store selling stoves, and later founded a successful coal business.
Before the Civil War, Still had destroyed many of his records about aiding fugitives, because he feared they would be used to prosecute people. After the war, his children persuaded him to write the story of his exploits and the people he helped. Still's book, The Underground Railroad (1872), is one of the most important historical records we have. Although Still recognized the many contributions of white abolitionists, he portrayed the fugitives as courageous individuals who struggled for their own freedom. Still proudly exhibited his book at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876.
William Still was born in Burlington County, New Jersey. His father, Levin Steel, had been enslaved, purchased his own freedom, and changed his name to Still to protect his wife, Sidney. Mrs. Still had tried to escape once before she succeeded, but could only bring two of her children with her. William Still had little formal education, but studied whenever he could. In 1844, William moved to Philadelphia.
In 1847, he found a job as a clerk and janitor for the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery. He soon began aiding fugitive slaves, often sheltering them until they could find their way farther north. One fugitive was his older brother, Peter, who had been left behind when his mother escaped forty years earlier. These experiences led William to save careful records about the people he helped. Meanwhile, Still purchased real estate, opened a store selling stoves, and later founded a successful coal business.
Before the Civil War, Still had destroyed many of his records about aiding fugitives, because he feared they would be used to prosecute people. After the war, his children persuaded him to write the story of his exploits and the people he helped. Still's book, The Underground Railroad (1872), is one of the most important historical records we have. Although Still recognized the many contributions of white abolitionists, he portrayed the fugitives as courageous individuals who struggled for their own freedom. Still proudly exhibited his book at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876.
Morgan State University Lacrosse team 1967.
African American women known as “waiter carriers” found a path to financial freedom through fried chicken in the 1800s. They also put Gordonsville, Virginia on the map as the "Fried Chicken Capital of the World.” Capitalizing on the fact that railroad trains during this time period didn’t have dining cars, local African American women in Gordonsville sold homemade fried chicken, biscuits and pies from the platform. The women would balance plates of fried chicken on their heads and serve passengers through open railcar windows. As their popularity grew, passengers began to purposely route their trips to pass by the waiter carriers. Waiter carriers gained economic independence and empowerment, a major feat for African American women after the Civil War. By the late 1900s, dining cars were added to trains and government regulations cracked down on track-side food vendors, resulting in the slow disappearance of waiter carriers. Their legacy is honored in Gordonsville with an annual fried chicken contest.
Keith Haring, Grace Jones, Fela Kuti & Jean-Michel Basquiat
Cosby had some game huh
500 year old sketches of black Europeans, by German Renaissance artist Albrecht Durer.
The woman was a maid in the home of some Dutch friends of his; nothing is known of the man. Durer was famous for his realistic pictures, so these are probably very close likenesses of these people. That's unusual for pictures of ordinary black people from so long ago.
The woman was a maid in the home of some Dutch friends of his; nothing is known of the man. Durer was famous for his realistic pictures, so these are probably very close likenesses of these people. That's unusual for pictures of ordinary black people from so long ago.
Man, Cos is pretty much just a punchline nowadays, but when he was young he was one helluva athlete, especially in track and tennis.
African American women known as “waiter carriers” found a path to financial freedom through fried chicken in the 1800s. They also put Gordonsville, Virginia on the map as the "Fried Chicken Capital of the World.” Capitalizing on the fact that railroad trains during this time period didn’t have dining cars, local African American women in Gordonsville sold homemade fried chicken, biscuits and pies from the platform. The women would balance plates of fried chicken on their heads and serve passengers through open railcar windows. As their popularity grew, passengers began to purposely route their trips to pass by the waiter carriers. Waiter carriers gained economic independence and empowerment, a major feat for African American women after the Civil War. By the late 1900s, dining cars were added to trains and government regulations cracked down on track-side food vendors, resulting in the slow disappearance of waiter carriers. Their legacy is honored in Gordonsville with an annual fried chicken contest.
I found out something new today! Amazing.
Congratulations Ninja05!
Great thread. Respect.
Congratulations Ninja05!
Appreciate it brotha.
500 year old sketches of black Europeans, by German Renaissance artist Albrecht Durer.
The woman was a maid in the home of some Dutch friends of his; nothing is known of the man. Durer was famous for his realistic pictures, so these are probably very close likenesses of these people. That's unusual for pictures of ordinary black people from so long ago.
Hercules was an enslaved person who worked at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Virginia plantation on the Potomac River. In the 1780’s, he was the head cook at Mount Vernon and in Washington’s presidential homes. Washington biographer G.W. Custis described Hercules as “as highly accomplished and proficient in the culinary arts as could be found in the United States.” Hercules chose Alice, one of Martha Washington’s “dower” slaves, as his wife, and they had three children named Richmond, Evey, and Delia.⠀ ⠀
Hercules was one of nine enslaved Africans taken to Philadelphia by George Washington in 1790 to work in the presidential household. Hercules was allowed to sell extra food from the Philadelphia kitchen, which earned him nearly $200 a year, which was the annual salary of a hired cook at the time. In 1797, Hercules escaped to freedom from Mount Vernon. Years later, he was legally freed from slavery under the terms of Washington’s will.
Hercules was one of nine enslaved Africans taken to Philadelphia by George Washington in 1790 to work in the presidential household. Hercules was allowed to sell extra food from the Philadelphia kitchen, which earned him nearly $200 a year, which was the annual salary of a hired cook at the time. In 1797, Hercules escaped to freedom from Mount Vernon. Years later, he was legally freed from slavery under the terms of Washington’s will.
The Long Hot Summer of 67. Milwaukee called in the National Guard.
A college student is stopped by National Guardsmen on August 3, 1967. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
"Papers please!"
This is an MP Company from the 32nd Infantry Division. The Red Arrows...looks like a Platoon Leader complete with a CS cannister and a couple of training (I hope) grenades.
A college student is stopped by National Guardsmen on August 3, 1967. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
"Papers please!"
This is an MP Company from the 32nd Infantry Division. The Red Arrows...looks like a Platoon Leader complete with a CS cannister and a couple of training (I hope) grenades.
Hercules was an enslaved person who worked at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Virginia plantation on the Potomac River. In the 1780’s, he was the head cook at Mount Vernon and in Washington’s presidential homes. Washington biographer G.W. Custis described Hercules as “as highly accomplished and proficient in the culinary arts as could be found in the United States.” Hercules chose Alice, one of Martha Washington’s “dower” slaves, as his wife, and they had three children named Richmond, Evey, and Delia.⠀ ⠀
Hercules was one of nine enslaved Africans taken to Philadelphia by George Washington in 1790 to work in the presidential household. Hercules was allowed to sell extra food from the Philadelphia kitchen, which earned him nearly $200 a year, which was the annual salary of a hired cook at the time. In 1797, Hercules escaped to freedom from Mount Vernon. Years later, he was legally freed from slavery under the terms of Washington’s will.
That's kind of surprising. There was one escaped female that Washington never stopped chasing. I believe I read that he only freed the rest because he was worried that they may attack Martha. He had no children to pass them on to. Learn something new everyday.
Photographs taken at Hughes-Quinn Jr. High School in East St. Louis, Illinois by Alan Moss. These photographs were taken between 1969-1971 by Moss who was a young teacher at the time and documented his students and other faculty members.
The Dodge City Crips 1979. Housing projects of San Pedro, California
The finger wave (S-shaped waves made using fingers and a comb), the Marcel (waves using the newly invented hot curling iron), and the Eton crop (the shortest of the bobs, popularized by Josephine Baker) were all hairstyles that became popular during the jazz age. Bobby pin got its name from holding the hairstyle in place. For African American women, this involved a chemical process or a hot comb to straighten their hair.
Hot combs, also known as "pressing combs," were heated on stoves and gas heaters, and used to temporarily straighten and smooth black hair textures. In 1909, Garrett A. Morgan, a sewing machine repairman (who later patented the traffic light), figured out how to create a relaxer from a solution used to reduce needle friction on wool. He founded the G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company, which created the first chemical relaxers. The first relaxers were marketed toward black men to create these wavy hairstyles. Relaxers and hair straightening became a way for African Americans to explore new ways to wear their hair.
Hot combs, also known as "pressing combs," were heated on stoves and gas heaters, and used to temporarily straighten and smooth black hair textures. In 1909, Garrett A. Morgan, a sewing machine repairman (who later patented the traffic light), figured out how to create a relaxer from a solution used to reduce needle friction on wool. He founded the G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company, which created the first chemical relaxers. The first relaxers were marketed toward black men to create these wavy hairstyles. Relaxers and hair straightening became a way for African Americans to explore new ways to wear their hair.