The Museum of Art and Light in Manhattan, Kansas, is currently hosting an exhibition titled “Crafting Sanctuaries: Black Spaces of the Black Great Depression South,” which aims to highlight the often-overlooked contributions and experiences of Black Southerners during the Great Depression. This exhibition challenges the predominant narratives established by the Farm Security Administration (FSA), which historically focused on White families in its visual documentation of rural America.
Established in 1937 by the United States Department of Agriculture, the FSA sought to provide assistance to rural communities devastated by the Great Depression. Government official Roy Stryker led a photography project intended to garner public support for the agency. However, the photographs predominantly featured White families, resulting in a narrow and largely whitewashed portrayal of the era.
The current exhibition, organized by Tamir Williams of the Art Bridges Foundation, showcases a more inclusive perspective by featuring works from renowned photographers such as Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Russell Lee, Marion Post Wolcott, Arthur Rothstein, Ben Shahn, and Jack Delano. These images document Black communities across six states: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, and Missouri.
Exploring Black Domesticity and Community
Williams, who was approached by Ashley Holland, the curator and director of Curatorial Initiatives for the Art Bridges Foundation, aimed to address the historical absence of Black representation in the FSA’s visual legacy. Williams referenced works such as Nicholas Natanson’s “The Black Image in the New Deal: The Politics of FSA Photography” (1992) and Sarah Boxer’s article, “Whitewashing the Great Depression” (2020) in The Atlantic, which critically analyze this exclusion.
During their research, Williams spent time at the Library of Congress examining the FSA’s extensive photographic collection. This exploration led to a deeper understanding of the homes and communities built by both White and Black laborers, particularly in La Forge, Missouri. Williams expressed a desire to uncover the realities of Black families beyond this locality, prompting further research into the broader experiences of Black Americans during this challenging period.
The exhibition features images that reveal intimate aspects of Black life, showcasing domestic settings and communal spaces. “Jack Delano’s ‘Negro tenant family near Greensboro, Alabama’ (1941) is particularly striking,” remarked Javier Rivero Ramos, associate curator at Art Bridges. The photograph captures a young family in their home, surrounded by walls plastered with newspaper clippings, evoking a powerful emotional resonance.
Another noteworthy piece is Marion Post Wolcott’s photograph of three children and a dog in their family home, which blends the ordinary with a sense of magic, showcasing the resilience and creativity of Black families during the Depression.
Complementing Narratives of Sanctuary
The exhibition runs concurrently with “Sanctuary in Motion,” a companion installation developed with the Yuma Street Cultural Center. This segment highlights the historical significance of Manhattan, Kansas, a town founded by abolitionist settlers around 1855. Kristy Peterson, vice president of Learning, Engagement, and Visitor Experiences at the museum, emphasized the importance of understanding the community’s history and the role of Yuma Street as a sanctuary for families.
“Crafting Sanctuaries” not only serves as a corrective to the historical narrative but also as a meditation on the beauty and resilience found within Black Southern spaces. Williams hopes that the photographs will allow viewers to appreciate how Black Southerners have defined beauty and community amidst economic hardship and social strife.
The exhibition, which will be on display until March 15, 2024, invites audiences to witness a more comprehensive depiction of history, emphasizing the significance of Black contributions during the Great Depression. By reclaiming these narratives, the exhibition aims to foster a deeper understanding of the complexities of American history and culture.
