Deborah Willis on 'Reflections in Black': Preserving Black Photography History

The Genesis of 'Reflections in Black'

• 💡 As an undergraduate, Deborah Willis questioned the absence of Black photographers in art history curricula, sparking the initial research for her seminal book.
• 🎯 Growing up with magazines like Ebony and Life, she was already familiar with the work of photographers like Gordon Parks, which fueled her curiosity.

Archival Challenges and Discoveries

• 🔍 Sourcing images from the 19th century proved difficult, requiring deep dives into the archives of the Black press and historical societies.
• 📌 Willis highlights the crucial role of photography studios like Addison Scurlock's in Washington D.C. as hubs for documenting Black intellectual and everyday life.
• 📸 The Harlem on the Mind exhibition in 1969, featuring James Van Der Zee, was a significant inspiration, showcasing photography as a tool for social protest and community development.

Reframing the Narrative

• ✨ The updated edition, 'Reflections in Black: A Reframing,' includes over 130 additional photos and expands the scope to include diaspora photographers from the UK, Caribbean, West Africa, and South Africa.
• 🌍 Reframing involves re-telling the story of Black photography to ensure it is not forgotten, incorporating contemporary photographers and their unique perspectives.
• 🖼️ The cover features Maulter as Colli, chosen for her powerful statement on Black women needing to be political in their work, and her self-representation with a daguerreotype.

Photography as Evidence and Identity

• ✊ The camera is presented as a vital tool for Black communities to counter negative representations and visually document their experiences, style, activism, and sense of self.
• 🎭 Portraiture is described as a "theater of desire," where individuals could imagine and document their future selves, creating a visual legacy for generations.
• 🖼️ Special pieces highlighted include Gordon Parks' iconic image of Ella Watson and Shaharzad Tedlet's intimate portrayal of a prom night, showcasing community and tradition.

Community and Legacy

• 🤝 Willis emphasizes the importance of a community of Black photographers, citing figures like Kwame Brathwaite and the Kimong Workshop, who supported each other and documented Black life.
• 🌟 The new generation of photographers, like Tyler Mitchell and Denise Huitt, are exciting for Willis because they are fearlessly entering spaces previously closed to Black artists and are redefining contemporary Black identity through their work.
• 💬 The Black Portraitures conference, held internationally, aims to foster broader conversations about African diaspora arts and culture, focusing on themes like the Black built environment.