Abstract
W. E. B. Du Bois, who helped assemble a collection of 363 photographs of African Americans for the Paris Exposition of 1900, once famously stated that, “All art is propaganda and ever must be, despite the wailing of the purists. I stand in utter shamelessness and say that whatever art I have for writing has been used always for propaganda for gaining the right of black folk to love and enjoy. I do not care a damn for any art that is not used for propaganda.” Du Bois offered the collection of photographs to provide visual evidence that African Americans were not an inferior race. Jessie Redmon Fauset, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Augustus Granville Dill would later oversee The Brownies’ Book (1920-1921), one of the first periodicals created primarily for “the children of the sun.” Each issue featured a section titled “Little People of the Month” that featured photographs of children while highlighting their accomplishments in areas such as academics and music. The photographs were an essential part of the “Little People of Month” sections. Like the text, they showcased the beauty, talents, and successes of African American children. The purpose of this study is to analyze the images in the “Little People of the Month” sections of The Brownies’ Book to demonstrate how photographs can serve as propaganda and depict African American children as humane, successful, intelligent people. An implication is that photography can be a powerful tool in the struggle for racial equality and justice.
Presenters
Jonda McNairCharlotte S. Huck Endowed Professor of Children's Literature, Teaching and Learning - College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
African American Children's Literature, The Brownies' Book, Photography
