Explore Black History

ca. 1968; printed 2017

A color photograph of Grandassa models and founding AJASS members Kletus Smith, Frank Adu, Bob Gumbs, Elombe Brath and Ernest Baxter captured at the Naturally '68 photo shoot at the Apollo Theater. The ten Grandassa models are standing in the back row with the tallest three at the center and the others in descending height order on either side. Sikolo Brathwaite is depicted standing third from the left. The five men are crouched in a row below the models. From left to right is Smith, Adu, Gumbs, Brath and Baxter. The women are wearing dresses and skirts, most of which are constructed from brightly colored textiles with African-inspired motifs. The men are wearing brightly colored and patterned dashiki shirts over jeans and trousers. Three of the men are holding books. The book held by Smith on the far left is [LITTLE ZENG TAKES US TO / ANCIENT AFRICA] by Christopher N. Hall and Robert Harris. The booklet at the center held by Gumbs reads [NATURALLY ’63 / PORTFOLIO], and the book on the right, held by Brath, is [COLOR / US / CULLUD! / The American Negro Leadership / Official Coloring Book] by Elombe Brath and Christopher Hall. The group is standing on a light tone wooden floor, in front of a dark blue wall. The wall is plastered with posters and flyers for events such as [NATURALLY ’62], [NATURALLY ’63], [NATURALLY ’64], [NATURALLY ’65], [NATURALLY ’67], [GARVEY DAY / CELEBRATION], [a portrait of / PATRICE / LUMUMBA], [[AFRICAN HUT DANCE], [caste-life / REVUE], and others. There are no marks or inscriptions, front or back.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Photographs and Still Images

Black is Beautiful
BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976)

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2021.26.3

portraits
inkjet prints

Courtesy of the Kwame Brathwaite Archive & Philip Martin Gallery, © Kwame Brathwaite
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

pigment on paper (fiber product)

H x W: 15 × 15 in. (38.1 × 38.1 cm)

Title • Untitled (Naturally '68 photo shoot in the Apollo Theater featuring Grandassa models and founding AJASS members Kletus Smith, Frank Adu, Bob Gumbs, Elombe Brath and Ernest Baxter)

nmaahc_2021.26.3

NMAAHC

UNTITLED (NATURALLY '68 PHOTO SHOOT IN THE APOLLO THEATER FEATURING GRANDASSA MODELS AND FOUNDING AJASS MEMBERS KLETUS SMITH, FRANK ADU, BOB GUMBS, ELOMBE BRATH AND ERNEST BAXTER)

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1960s • 1970s

Baxter, Ernest • African Jazz-Arts Society and Studios • Garvey, Marcus • Adu, Frank • Harris, Robert • Gumbs, Robert • Brathwaite, Sikolo • Apollo Theater • Hall, Christopher • Brathwaite, Kwame • Lumumba, Patrice Émery • Smith, Kletus • Brath, Elombe

New York City • Harlem • United States • North and Central America

African diaspora • Design • Hair • Photography • Activism • Art • Fashion • Beauty culture • BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976) • Associations and institutions • Black power • Black is Beautiful

African Americans • Africans

Locale • Harlem • City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Portraits • Photographs

Images

Limited Use