Photographing Freetowns

Sunday Best

Pictured in a more formal time, the Kentucky African Americans in Helen Morrison’s photographs had a variety of reasons to dress up—church services, the arrival of visitors, trips into town, or other special occasions—to name a few. Donning one’s “Sunday best” for church was probably the most common reason, as religion played a central role in African American community and social life.

Titles supplied by Morrison for her photographs suggest the entertaining of visitors or other special occasions. Using stereotypical language, Masters Got Company implies that some of the women and children in the image are guests and that this gathering is a special occasion. Why Morrison chose this title or why two women and four young children are sitting outside amidst a grove of trees remains unknown.
 

This page has paths:

Contents of this tag: