Lynching of an Unknown Man Present in a Family Album

The above photograph was taken from an Alabama family’s photo album.  The identity of the African American man in the photograph is unknown, as well as the date of the lynching; however, it is presumed to have taken place on September 3^rd, 1915.

Even though the photograph has little background information, it can speak towards the institutionalized racism amongst southern communities.  There is no name attached to the lynched man in the photograph; however, by the appearance of his clothes juxtaposed with his attackers, you can presume that he was of a lower socioeconomic standing.  Similarly, those in the photograph seem to be observing the lynched man with an indifferent, if not proud, demeanor.  Amongst the onlookers are some young boys, showing that fathers may have took their sons to the lynching to show display what they have done in a sense of “passing it down.”

The fact that this photograph was found within a family photo album speaks to this idea of passing down racist ideals.  The photographer, who may have been within the family, seems to have presented the photograph to the owner of the album in order to show off what they have done to an African American whose only crime may have been being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  There is no documentation of this event other than this photograph, which shows only that it happened and the pride of those involved through its presence in a family photo album.