Analyzing Historical Photographs From the 1930s to Segregation Era
1. Who are the people in the photograph?
Picture 1 – They are women from the 1930s.
Picture 2 – Hitler and a little Dutch boy and two women.
Picture 3 – A bunch of black people protesting and the police try to stop it.
Picture 4 – The Statue of Liberty and a black man.
Picture 5- A boy and his parents looking at the Statue of Liberty.
Picture 6- Officers and white men that are shirtless.
What is the situation of the people in the photograph? Provide evidence from the photo
that tells you this.
Picture 1. The women are cooking in the kitchen because there are stoves, pots, and food.
Picture 2. Hitler is shaking the hand of a Dutch boy, as two women are watching.
Picture 3. The black man is being attacked by the policeman’s dog.
Picture 4. A black man is being hung by the hand of the Statue of Liberty.
Picture 5. Immigrants are looking at the Statue of Liberty from Ellis Island.
Picture 6. Men are getting physicals in order to join the military.
What message do you think the photographer was trying to convey?
Picture 1. That the women did all the cooking in the 1930s.
Picture 2. That Hitler is trying to show his good side to the Dutch.
Picture 3. That the blacks are being targeted by the police during segregation.
Picture 4. That blacks should not be a part of America.
Picture 5. That immigrants are excited that they are free in America.
Picture 6. The overall physical examination of joining the military was very vague and quick.
Why is this photograph important to history?
Picture 1. This is during the Depression and it shows how the times are rough.
Picture 2. Because it’s ironic because Hitler is showing his good when he has killed many people.
Picture 3. This was taken during Segregation, and it showed police brutali ty to the blacks.
Picture 4. Because people believed that blacks should not be considered as citizens in America.
Picture 5. Because immigrants were glad to come to America because they were free in the U.S.A.
Picture 6. It’s important because this is how people were examined to join the military.
2. What questions does this photograph raise?
Picture 1. Who are they cooking for?
Picture 2. Why are the women smiling behind Hitler? Who are the women?
Picture 3. What did the black man do?
Picture 4. Why was the black man hung?
Picture 5. Where are they from? Why did they come here?
Picture 6. Why is he looking at his eyes? Why are they shirtless?
Write your own caption for the photograph:
Picture 1. Tough times come with tough measures.
Picture 2. Hitler showing his soft side.
Picture 3. Police brutality during segregation.
Picture 4. America does not want blacks.
Picture 5. Welcome to America.
Picture 6. Preparing for war.
What could you do to find more information about this photograph?
Picture 1. Look up information about the Depression. Also, look up the photographer and see what he
was trying to depict in the picture.
Picture 2. Research about Hitler and his behaviors. Also, look up the photographer and see what he
was trying to depict in the picture.
Picture 3. Look up how the police treated blacks during Segregation. Look up the photographer and
see what he was trying to depict in the picture.
Picture 4. Look up the photographer and see what he was trying to depict in the picture.
Picture 5. Research immigration and look up the photographer and see what he was trying to depict
in the picture.
Picture 6. Research how the military evaluated the new recruits and look up the photographer and
see what he was trying to depict in the picture.
3. Based on what you have observed list 3 things you might infer from the photograph
1-
Picture 1. That was taken during the Great Depression.
Picture 2. The women were related to the boy.
Picture 3. The police were brutal to the blacks.
Picture 4. This is a hate crime.
Picture 5. These people are immigrants.
Picture 6. Men had to take their shirt off to get physicals.
2-
Picture 1. Women did the cooking.
Picture 2. The boy was Dutch.
Picture 3. The black man probably did not do anything wrong.
Picture 4. Whites do not want blacks in America.
Picture 5. They are looking forward to being in America.
Picture 6. The physical was a quick process.
3-
Picture 1. The family was very poor.
Picture 2. Hitler had a soft side.
Picture 3. This was taken during Segregation.
Picture 4. America is full of racist people.
Picture 5. They are standing on Ellis Island, New York.
Picture 6. That this country is going to war, and they need more men to join the military.