Picturing Freedom: African Americans & Their Cars

A Photographic History

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on Waterstones.com
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 1 Sep 2022 | Archive Date 3 Nov 2022

Talking about this book? Use #PicturingFreedom #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

Picturing Freedom chronicles and celebrates the photographic history of African Americans and their cars by focusing on personal images of the pride and joy of car ownership (1900-1980+). Owning a car was a significant life-changing achievement for African Americans. It offered special freedoms—freedom to travel, freedom to work further from home, freedom to visit family and friends, freedom to avoid Jim Crow laws, and freedom to migrate. The car was unequivocal evidence of Black success and an important symbol of status in a country that had long fought their advancement in every area. Car ownership was purposely and proudly photographed. All of the photographs were taken in Black communities by a family member or a friend and reveal how African Americans represented themselves.  

This publication adds to the visual narrative of our culture through 272-pages and over 450 unique photographs. Accompanying the images are comprehensive histories of photography, car freedoms, and travel, as well as contributions from legendary photographer Chester Higgins, Jr. and public health advocate Gerald Deas, MD. 

This 2022 IPPY award-winning book is the sixth from Elizabeth A. Burns and the fiftieth from Stanley B. Burns, MD & The Burns Archive.

Picturing Freedom chronicles and celebrates the photographic history of African Americans and their cars by focusing on personal images of the pride and joy of car ownership (1900-1980+). Owning a...


Advance Praise

“The book is amazing and the images are profound!” — Jamel Shabazz, photographer 

“The book is WONDERFUL! Congratulations, not only for the publication, but for the many years of dedication to building such an amazing collection.” — Russell Lord, Freeman Family Curator of Photographs, New Orleans Museum of Art

“Terrific book! It's just full of treasures, and I'm so pleased to have it in my personal library.” — Liz Siegel, Curator of Photography and Media, The Art Institute of Chicago

“I feel I have gone on a journey. The rhythm and pacing of the photographs, the repetition of poses, and the awesome historical sweep make for such a complete experience.” — Dalila Scruggs, Ph.D., Curator of Photographs and Prints Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

“powerful; thought-provoking and historic.” — Sekou Luke, photographer 

“The pictorial history of American civil rights you never knew you needed.” — Alice Bennett, Reedsy Discovery

“The book is amazing and the images are profound!” — Jamel Shabazz, photographer 

“The book is WONDERFUL! Congratulations, not only for the publication, but for the many years of dedication to...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781936002122
PRICE US$40.00 (USD)

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Send to Kindle (PDF)
Download (PDF)

Average rating from 4 members


Featured Reviews

Gorgeous book - more than just a photo album spanning many decades -- this book provides historical context and analysis. I enjoyed it and would love to have this book as a coffee table book, and would be happy to give this as a gift to friends.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: