American Memory Blog

"Along a road near Greensboro, Alabama"

S-The subjects of the pictures are two black people working in a field alongside a road. They have a carriage thing and a bucket, that shows they are working. They are wearing light, plain clothes, showing they don't have very much money.

O-I think the occasion of this picture is that the people are working in a field. It looks hot there, and it appears that the two people are taking a break to talk to each other. I think this picture was taken in the 1940s and during that time, there was a lot of segregation in the south, although slavery was illegal.

A-I think the audience of this picture is supposed to be rich white people that lived in the time it was taken. I think it was to show them how black people don't have as many job opportunities as they do, and to show them how they live.

P-I think the purpose of this picture is to inform people about how black people live compared to the rich white people. I think it is also to illustrate a way of life for black people at this time.

S-I think the person who took this picture was interested in helping people, and wanted people to understand what is going on in other people's lives that they might not realize.

TONE-I think the tone of this article is sad because the people in the picture look tired and like they have had a long day of work. Also, I think that they look sad because they aren't getting paid enough for all the work that they have to do.

"Part of a Negro tenant family on a farm near Greensboro, Alabama."

S-The subjects of this picture are three black children, that look sad and tired, like they have been working a long time. They are standing on their porch and looking out at something that is not seen in the picture. The kids are all wearing plain, old clothes, that are stained and ripped.

O-I think the occasion of this picture is the three kids taking a break from their work and watching something. I think this picture was also taken in the 1940s, when segregation was common. These kids might be watching someone from their family being hurt by a white person, or they might just be looking out in the distance after a long day's work.

A-The audience of this picture, I think, was supposed to be rich, upper class white people, and others who practiced segregation, so they could see how the black people lived, and the hard times they went through.

P-The purpose of this picture is to inform people of how the blacks live and the hard times they go through, while the whites might have it easy. I also think it is to illustrate how the black people lived and felt.

S-The person that took this picture, seems to want to show people the emotions of black people in this time, because of the way the picture is taken looking up at the kids. I think they want to help people understand how others are feeling at this time.

TONE-The tone of this picture is sad because the expressions of the children are sad, and you can tell they are worn out and tired. It looks like they are watching something that is making them sad but curious.

"Man drinking at a water cooler in the street car terminal."

S-The subject of this picture is a black man taking a drink of water efrom a water fountain that says "Colored Only" The man is wearing pretty plain clothes, although they are a bit nicer than the ones the people were wearing in the previous pictures. There are also two signs pointing black men and women and white men and women to their seperate bathrooms. The drinking fountain looks and it is very low.

O-The occasion at the time of this picture is probably during the 1940s and 1950s again, and the man is probably just thirsty, so he is taking a drink. During this time there was a lot of racism and segregation in the south.

A-I think this picture was intended to be seen by rich, white people again, because I think it is to show them how silly segregation is. It might also just be a picture taken to document segregation and the signs that were used for people and places where segregation doesn't occur.

P-I think the purpose of this picture is to inform people of forms of segregation and show an example of it to people who might otherwise not believe it. I also think it is to document how segrgation was taking place at the time.

S-The photographer of this photograph, I think, was trying to show people about segregation, so the issue was probably important to them. It think it shows that they don't want segregation to take place, so they are trying to make it more well know to people.

TONE-The tone of this picture is a little sad because it shows how people are racist. It is a little bit indifferent because the man drinking the water doesn't look like he cared one way or another as long as he got his water. But, that makes it sort of sad that some people might not care if segregation was happening.

"Secondhand clothing stores and pawn shop on Beale Street."

S-The subject of this picture is the sign from the hotel that says "The Best Service for Colored Only", and the people walking by the hotel. All of the people are black, and the part of town the hotel is in doesn't look very fancy, but it does look safe and clean. The camera is looking up at the sign, so you can tell that is the main subject of the picture.

O-The occasion in this picture is unclear, but it looks like it was taken in the 1940s or 1950s when segregation was happening. This is in a time after the Depression and after slavery, so maybe these people are poor. This could also be due to the fact that people were racist when hiring people.

A-I believe the audience of this picture was intended to be rich, upperclass, white people, to show them that the part of town where black people run their business is safe just like theirs. I also think it is to point out how segregation is taking place.

P-I think the purpose of this picture is to illustrate how blacks and whites are similar and to point out the segregation taking place in the town and show that it shouldn't be happening. I also think it is to inform people and document how segregation took place.

S-The person that took this picture seems to want people to know about types of segregation and let other people know about it. Since the camera is looking up at the sign, you can tell the person wants you to know what the sign said, and it was important to them.

TONE-The tone of this picture is mostly indifferent because it is focused on the sign, not people's emotions. But it is also kind of sad to see segregation taking place like this, and some people walking by seem like they don't care not to be treated right.