Sold by Max Rambod Inc, Woodland Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Association Member:
AbeBooks Seller since February 5, 2021
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Civil Rights photo archive documenting civil unrest, police crackdowns, and racial tensions in Philadelphia, PA during the 1960s. Consists of four silver gelatin press photographs, black and white, each measuring 8.5" x 7" and 10" x 7.25". The images capture moments of protest, rioting, and law enforcement responses, highlighting points of struggle and resistance in the Civil Rights era. Each photograph is accompanied by detailed captions or newspaper clippings that provide vital historical context. One particularly striking image, dated August 31, 1964, depicts a raid on Shaykh Muhammad's African-Asian Cultural Center in North Philadelphia. Police officers in uniform climb a fire ladder to search the rooftops of the building, while a large crowd watches from below. According to the caption, the raid was carried out by "more than 50 police officers" in response to civil unrest in the area. The caption further states that "makings of about a dozen Molotov cocktail fire bombs found in the building were among other items confiscated by police." The police arrested the cultural center's leader, identified as Shaykh Muhammad, "a former Black Muslim." The image underscores the heightened law enforcement presence in Black communities and the aggressive policing tactics employed during periods of civil disorder. Another image, dated October 29, 1963, shows a young Black man being forcibly taken into police custody by two uniformed officers. The man, wearing a light-colored trench coat, is stiff and agitated as he is grabbed by police on both arms. The caption reads, "Police patrolmen hustle a Negro into a patrol car at the height of rioting in North Philadelphia last night." A newspaper clipping affixed to the back of the photo describes the scene in stark racial terms, stating that the "RACE RIOT in Philadelphia was broken up by police after more than 500 Negroes surged through the streets, breaking windows and threatening whites." The article reports that "police arrested more than 20 persons after the ruckus that started with the fatal shooting of an alleged shoplifter, a Negro." The rhetoric used in the caption and article reflects the racially charged reporting of the era, which often framed Black communities as instigators rather than addressing the root causes of unrest. A third photograph, taken on August 30, 1964, captures the aftermath of riots and looting in North Philadelphia. A Black man with a poignant expression stands in front of a boarded-up storefront, reading a handwritten sign taped to the door. The sign reads, "Don't Bother Breaking In - We Are Cleaned Out." The caption states, "Negro pedestrian glances at sign on door of boarded-up yard goods store in area of looting and rioting in North Philadelphia during last two nights." The mention of "occasional instances of looting still being reported" suggests the ongoing volatility of the situation. This photograph poignantly illustrates the impact of unrest on local businesses and communities. The final image, dated May 29, 1963, depicts a confrontation between NAACP picketers and Philadelphia police officers at a school construction site. Officers stand "shoulder to shoulder and in several ranks," forming a barricade against Black demonstrators protesting hiring discrimination. The caption states that the protest marked "two days of efforts of the pickets to halt work" and that "The NAACP claims Negroes are being discriminated against in hiring practices at the project." The photograph is a stark reminder of the systemic racial injustices Black Philadelphians faced in employment and public infrastructure development. This archive provides a harrowing visual account of racial conflict and civil rights struggles in 1960s Philadelphia. The images document not only the actions of protestors and rioters but also the aggressive policing and media narratives that shaped public perceptions of racial unrest. This collection is a significant resource for historians studying urb.
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