Untitled (Santos) 1967

This is an untitled photograph of a swing set, by Louis Draper. Draper, a Black photographer, co-founded the Kamoinge Workshop in 1963, a collective that provided support and community for Black photographers. Draper’s photographs often capture the nuances of everyday life within the Black community, challenging mainstream representations. The high contrast and strong shadows may evoke feelings of both nostalgia and melancholy. The empty swing suggests absence, while the shadow anchors the swing to the earth. The wall looms behind, tagged with the name ‘Santos,’ a neighborhood resident perhaps, or a dedication? As Draper said, “I photograph what I want to remember.” Consider what Draper may have wanted to remember, or perhaps, what he wanted us to see and remember? This image serves as a powerful reflection on identity, memory, and the often-unseen spaces of Black life.