“Civil Rights March on Washington D.C.”, Warren Leffler, Photograph (1963)

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.

This photograph was taken by Warren K. Leffler in 1963 in Washington, D.C. It shows a procession of African Americans carrying signs for equal rights, integrated schools, decent housing, and an end to bias.  At the time, African Americans launched demonstrations and public protests to demand their rights. The photo was taken for the public in order to see the fight that the African Americans were giving to end segregation. This would gather supporters for the cause but also enemies. As a result, the photograph called attention to the marches. The marches thus was the catalyst for new legislation such as the Civil rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“Louis Armstrong Collection: Photographs, Box 43. “, Louis Armstrong House, Photograph (1910-1980)

This collection of 58 prints of musicians including Louis Armstrong and other celebrities was release in Corona, New York in 1987. While the photographer is unknown, The Louis Armstrong House Museum keeps the collection of pictures and makes it available to the public eye. The collection of pictures was made for jazz music lovers who wanted to view musicians and celebrities behind-the-scenes in their everyday life. This collection documents real-life experiences and moments of musicians. The photo of Louis Armstrong displays him sitting at a desk, writing and composing a new musical piece. Louis Armstrong is an example of a trumpeter who was one of the earlier examples of an African American musician to be popular with American white people. Regardless of his racial background, he captured people of both black and white backgrounds. He was also hardworking and determined. This photo shows Louis Armstrong in one of his more private moments where he participating in society not as a musician but as a hardworking and determined African American individual. This source was found on the Louis Armstrong House Museum Online Catalogue.

“Portrait of Duke Ellington and Sonny Greer”, William Gottlieb, Photograph (1917)

The photo of Duke Ellington performing at an Aquarium in New York was published in 1917 in New York, N.Y. The black and white photo was taken by William Gottlieb and it features Duke Ellington performing piano on a stage with a band. The photo was taken for Americans in order to capture Duke Ellington in action during a performance. One of the key issues of this source is that this photo was taken at the beginning of Duke Ellington’s success. Duke Ellington wrote more than a thousand compositions and toured most of western Europe during a career that spanned decades. Duke Ellington is an example of one of the famous well-liked African American jazz musicians in the 1920’s. He became famous regardless of all the challenges of discriminate and he faced, he was able to overcome them. He was great at recruiting men for his band and noticing each and every one of their strengths. He composed songs based on his band member’s strengths.