BLACK YOUNGSTERS COOL OFF WITH FIRE HYDRANT WATER ON CHICAGO’S SOUTH SIDE IN THE WOODLAWN COMMUNITY. THE KIDS DON'T GO TO THE CITY BEACHES AND USE THE FIRE HYDRANTS TO COOL OFF INSTEAD IT'S A TRADITION IN THE COMMUNITY, COMPRISED OF VERY LOW INCOME PEOPLE. THE AREA HAS HIGH CRIME AND FIRE RECORDS. FROM 1960 TO 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF CHICAGO BLACKS WITH AN INCOME OF $7,000 OR MORE JUMPED FROM 26% TO 58%
Featured on PDR in the collection John H. White’s Photographs of Black Chicago for DOCUMERICA (1973–74)
It’s hard not to read John H. White’s DOCUMERICA series as a love letter to Black Chicago. Whether capturing protesters or checkers players, concerts or chores, White’s work feels animated by a wonder and curiosity for the great breadth of stories and characters he encountered while exploring his adopted home city — “life”, as he put it in the captions to several of his images, “in all its seasons”.
Also appearing in the collection…
“Black youngsters cool off with fire hydrant water on Chicago’s South Side in the Woodlawn…”
Artist
Date
1973–4
From
Documerica
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