Explore Black History

1968

A black-and-white photograph of a Poor People's Campaign mule train from Mississippi passing through Washington, D.C.
There are several mule-drawn wagons in a line going down a street. There are some people riding in uncovered wagons and there are others walking alongside the wagons. The wagon in the back of the line is covered and a man and woman are sitting on the back of it. The woman has her proper right arm resting on the side of the wagon and her proper left leg is crossed over her right leg. The man's legs are crossed at his ankles and his proper left arm is bent and resting on the side of the wagon. His head is resting on his left hand and his proper right hand is resting on his right knee.
There is a police officer on a motorcycle at the back of the "train". There are cars and trucks in the background as well as a large building with columns, a tower, and arched windows.
The photograph is on a tan mounting board. There is black handwriting under the proper right side of the image. It reads [Mule train from Mississippi going through / the city of Washington, D.C. June, 1968]. Under the proper left side of the image it is signed [Laura Phillips 1968]. The back of the mounting board has a few small tears and dented corners. There is a piece of tape on the back of the mounting board.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Photographs and Still Images

African American - Latinx Solidarity
Poor People's Campaign

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

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2017.109.2

gelatin silver prints

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

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper on mounting board

H x W (Board): 14 × 18 in. (35.6 × 45.7 cm)
H x W (Image): 9 1/8 × 12 3/16 in. (23.2 × 31 cm)

Title • Mule Train from Mississippi going through the city of Washington, D.C. June, 1968

nmaahc_2017.109.2

NMAAHC

MULE TRAIN FROM MISSISSIPPI GOING THROUGH THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. JUNE, 1968

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1960s

Poor People's Campaign • Jones, Laura

District of Columbia • United States • North and Central America • Washington

Justice • Resistance • African American - Latinx Solidarity • Activism • Poor People's Campaign • Poverty • Transportation • U.S. History, 1961-1969 • Civil rights • Politics

City • Washington • State • District of Columbia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Images

Limited Use