Herbert Randall
Encyclopedia
Herbert Eugene Randall, Jr. (born December 16, 1936 in the Bronx) is an American
photographer who had documented the effects of the African-American Civil Rights Movement
. Randall is of Shinnecock, African-American and West Indian ancestry.
in 1957. From 1958 to 1966, he worked as a freelance photographer for various media organizations. His photographs were used by the Associated Press
, United Press International
, Black Star
, various television stations, and other American and foreign publications. Randall was also a founding member of the Kamoinge Workshop, a forum for African-American photographers, in New York City
in 1963.
, the Director of Mississippi Freedom Summer's Hattiesburg project, persuaded Randall to photograph the effects of the Civil Rights Movement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
. Randall had a Whitney Fellowship
for that year, and had been looking for a project. He spent the entire summer photographing solely in Hattiesburg, among the African-American community and among the volunteers in area projects such as the Freedom Schools
, Voter Registration
, and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
campaign.
Only five of Randall's photographs were published in the summer of 1964. One seen worldwide was the bloodied, concussed Rabbi Arthur Lelyveld
, head of a prominent Cleveland congregation and former conscientious objector
to World War II
. However, most of his photographs sat in a file at the Shinnecock Reservation, on Long Island, New York.
In 1999, Randall donated 1800 negatives to the archives of The University of Southern Mississippi
in Hattiesburg. He and Bobs Tusa, the archivist
at USM, wrote Faces of Freedom Summer, which was published by the University of Alabama Press
in 2001. Faces is the only record of a single town in the midst of the Civil Rights revolution in America. At the time, the Hattiesburg Project was overlooked and unpublicised by the Civil Rights Movement.
and as a Photographic Consultant to the National Media Center Foundation. He was awarded the Creative Artist's Public Service Grant for Photography for 1971-72.
Randall's photographs have appeared in exhibitions at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
, The Brooklyn Museum
, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
, and other notable museums. His photographs are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, the Museum of Modern Art
, Brooklyn Museum
and Parrish Art Museum
. He has also served on numerous museum boards.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
photographer who had documented the effects of the African-American Civil Rights Movement
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
. Randall is of Shinnecock, African-American and West Indian ancestry.
Education
Randall studied photography under Harold FeinsteinHarold Feinstein
Harold Feinstein is an American photographer.-Biography:Harold Feinstein was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1931. At the age of 15 he began photographing and by 19 he was considered a young prodigy in the field, having his work purchased by Edward Steichen for the permanent collection of the...
in 1957. From 1958 to 1966, he worked as a freelance photographer for various media organizations. His photographs were used by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, Black Star
Black Star
-In astronomy:*Dark star , a theoretical star that has a surface escape velocity that equals or exceeds the speed of light*Dark star , a theoretical star heated by dark matter annihilation in the early universe...
, various television stations, and other American and foreign publications. Randall was also a founding member of the Kamoinge Workshop, a forum for African-American photographers, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1963.
Freedom Summer
In 1964, Sanford R. LeighSanford R. Leigh
Sanford Rose Leigh , also known as Sandy Leigh was an African-American Civil Rights Activist and the director of the largest project in Mississippi Freedom Summer, the Hattiesburg Project....
, the Director of Mississippi Freedom Summer's Hattiesburg project, persuaded Randall to photograph the effects of the Civil Rights Movement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County...
. Randall had a Whitney Fellowship
John Hay Whitney
John Hay Whitney , colloquially known as "Jock" Whitney, was U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, publisher of the New York Herald Tribune, and a member of the Whitney family.-Family:...
for that year, and had been looking for a project. He spent the entire summer photographing solely in Hattiesburg, among the African-American community and among the volunteers in area projects such as the Freedom Schools
Freedom Schools
Freedom Schools were temporary, alternative free schools for African Americans mostly in the South. They were originally part of a nationwide effort during the Civil Rights Movement to organize African Americans to achieve social, political and economic equality in the United States...
, Voter Registration
Voter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
, and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party was an American political party created in the state of Mississippi in 1964, during the civil rights movement...
campaign.
Only five of Randall's photographs were published in the summer of 1964. One seen worldwide was the bloodied, concussed Rabbi Arthur Lelyveld
Arthur Lelyveld
Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld was a rabbi within the movement of Reform Judaism. As well as being a prominent rabbi he also embraced social activism in many forms....
, head of a prominent Cleveland congregation and former conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. However, most of his photographs sat in a file at the Shinnecock Reservation, on Long Island, New York.
In 1999, Randall donated 1800 negatives to the archives of The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, informally known as Southern Miss, is a large public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is situated north of Gulfport, Mississippi and northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana...
in Hattiesburg. He and Bobs Tusa, the archivist
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
at USM, wrote Faces of Freedom Summer, which was published by the University of Alabama Press
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in 2001. Faces is the only record of a single town in the midst of the Civil Rights revolution in America. At the time, the Hattiesburg Project was overlooked and unpublicised by the Civil Rights Movement.
Later Work
Randall returned to New York after Freedom Summer, to continue his career in photography. He served as Coordinator of Photography for the New York City Board of EducationNew York City Board of Education
The New York City Board of Education is the governing body of the New York City Department of Education. The members of the board are appointed by the mayor and by the five borough presidents.-Rise, fall and return of Mayoral Control:...
and as a Photographic Consultant to the National Media Center Foundation. He was awarded the Creative Artist's Public Service Grant for Photography for 1971-72.
Randall's photographs have appeared in exhibitions at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
, The Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is an encyclopedia art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 square feet, the museum holds New York City's second largest art collection with roughly 1.5 million works....
, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
Art Institute of Pittsburgh
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is a private, for-profit, higher education institute located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that emphasizes design education and career preparation for the creative job market. It was founded in 1921.-History:...
, and other notable museums. His photographs are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
, Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is an encyclopedia art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 square feet, the museum holds New York City's second largest art collection with roughly 1.5 million works....
and Parrish Art Museum
Parrish Art Museum
The Parrish Art Museum is the oldest cultural institution on the East End of Long Island, uniquely situated within one of the most concentrated creative communities in the United States...
. He has also served on numerous museum boards.
Publications
- Faces of Freedom Summer / photographs by Herbert Randall ; text by Bobs M. Tusa ; foreword by Victoria Jackson Gray Adams and Cecil Gray. Tuscaloosa : University of Alabama Press, c2001. ISBN 0817310568