Races, Negroes: United States. Virginia. Hampton. Hampton Normal and Industrial School: Agencies Promoting Assimilation of the Negro: Development of Social Standards Among the Negroes. Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, Hampton, Va. 1899 - 1900

Editor: This is a photograph titled "Races, Negroes: United States. Virginia. Hampton..." by Frances Benjamin Johnston. It seems to be two images mounted together, depicting students at the Hampton Normal and Industrial School. The composition feels very staged. What's your take on it? Curator: The title itself is revealing, isn’t it? It speaks to the broader socio-political context of the time. Consider the phrase "Agencies Promoting Assimilation." How does the photographer’s approach either support or challenge that concept through her choice of subject matter? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered the title as part of the artwork itself. I wonder if the students were aware of how they were being portrayed, or if this was simply how these institutions chose to present themselves? Curator: Exactly. That interplay between institutional power, photographic representation, and the lived experience of the students is precisely what makes this image so compelling. Editor: I never would have thought about all this. This makes me see how art can function as historical records. Curator: Indeed. By critically examining images like this, we can gain invaluable insights into the complex dynamics of race, education, and power in America.