Explore Black History

2009; printed 2019

A black-and-white photograph of the Reverends Joseph Lowery, C. T. Vivian, Andrew Young, and Fred Shuttlesworth, by Platon. The photograph depicts Lowery, Vivian, Young, and Shuttlesworth posing in front the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Lowery, Vivian, and Young are gathered together, standing above Shuttlesworth, who is seated in a wheelchair at the center of the photograph. The photograph was taken from a low vantage point, looking up towards the men and the Ebenezer Baptist Church sign above them. All four men have their eyes closed with looks of deep concentration on their faces, as if praying.
Shuttlesworth is depicted with his eyes closed, and his chin tilted downwards. His elbows are propped on the arms of his wheelchair and his forearms are raised, holding Lowery’s and Young’s hands. He is wearing a sharkskin fabric, medium tone suit with a light tone dress shirt, a white pocket square, and a tie with a circular pattern.
Standing top left is Lowery. He is holding Shuttlesworth’s proper right hand with his own. He is leaning towards Vivian and Young. His eyes are closed and his mouth is downturned. He is wearing a dark tone, thin striped suit, a light tone, polka dot dress shirt, and a rectangular patterned tie. He has a medal with a five-pointed star pinned to his proper shoulder.
Standing top center is Vivian with his chin tilted upwards, his eyes closed, and his brows furrowed. He is wearing a dark tone suit, light tone dress shirt, and a diamond patterned tie. Standing top right is Young, leaning over Shuttlesworth’s proper left shoulder. He is holding Shuttlesworth’s proper left hand with his proper right hand. His proper left hand is resting on the top of Shuttlesworth’s armrest. He is wearing a dark tone suit and a dark tone striped dress shirt.
In the background, on the right, is the brick façade and diagonal roofline of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Centered above the group is the church’s neon sign which has a bright neon cross at the top and neon text below that reads [EBENEZER / BAPTIST / CHURCH]. There are several powerlines visible above the church sign. The photograph has a thick white border. The edition number, [5/12], is printed in the bottom left corner. The photographer’s signature and date, [Platon 19], is handwritten in the bottom right corner. Inside the border, at the bottom center, is the photographer’s embossed mark: [PLATON ? / EDITIONED ? / PRINT ?[encircled between two bands of embossed dots]]. The back of the photograph is plain and white.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Photographs and Still Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Platon

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2021.33.11

pigment prints
portraits

© Platon
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

pigment on paper

H x W (image): 19 3/4 × 14 1/4 in. (50.2 × 36.2 cm)
H x W (sheet): 24 × 20 in. (61 × 50.8 cm)
H x W (matted): 22 × 28 in. (55.9 × 71.1 cm)

Title • Reverends Joseph Lowery, C. T. Vivian, Andrew Young and Fred Shuttlesworth

nmaahc_2021.33.11

NMAAHC

REVERENDS JOSEPH LOWERY, C. T. VIVIAN, ANDREW YOUNG AND FRED SHUTTLESWORTH

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

2000s

Shuttlesworth, Fred • King, Martin Luther • Vivian, C. T. • Lowery, Joseph Echols • Platon • Young, Andrew • Ebenezer Baptist Church

New York City • United States • Atlanta • North and Central America • Fulton County • Georgia

Photography • Activism • American South • Religion • Civil rights • Faith • Politics • Prayer

Baptists • African Americans

City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Atlanta • County • Fulton County • State • Georgia

Portraits • pigment prints

Images

Limited Use