Alpha Phi Alpha Basketball Team 1926

Editor: James Van Der Zee captured this photograph, "Alpha Phi Alpha Basketball Team," in 1926. It's a gelatin silver print and presents this team with serious, confident expressions. What strikes you most when you look at it? Curator: For me, it’s the layering of narratives. We see a basketball team, but so much more exists beneath the surface. The image speaks of community, of aspiration. It also subtly reflects the burgeoning Harlem Renaissance, doesn’t it? Van Der Zee has this remarkable ability to imbue even posed portraits with a soulful vitality, what do you feel about it? Editor: It’s interesting how he uses the architecture, framing the team on these brownstone steps, almost like a stage. There's a sense of pride emanating from everyone. Do you think that backdrop has any specific symbolic significance? Curator: I think so. Consider where this was taken. Harlem, a haven and a crucible. The steps elevate them, quite literally. It suggests ascent, both personal and collective, as the African-American community seeks to advance socially and culturally. The steps represent, possibly, their path. Notice also, they are evenly spaced. This, to me, suggests unity. A team must stay coordinated in order to make the climb together. Do you see any other potential meanings to it? Editor: That’s a fascinating point. I didn't notice it at first, but, looking again, it’s definitely about their positioning, their unity. I was stuck on how straightforward it seemed! Curator: Sometimes, my dear, the most potent stories are told through seemingly simple compositions. I hope this enriches the whole piece a little bit.