underground books for an Art Talk!! April 26 from 5-7 pm.
(L-R) Rayford Johnson, Antonio Harvey, Larry Dalton and Robert Maryland.
SACRAMENTO – Whether she’s fighting for equal opportunities at the state capitol or healthier food options at her child’s school, never underestimate the power of a Black woman to get things done.
The dynamism of African American women will be on display as photographers from the Sacramento Observer continue their “Behind the Lens” series this month. The latest display, “A Portrait In Black” runs at Underground Books through May.
“A Portrait In Black” features the works of photo journalists Larry Dalton, Robert Maryland and Antonio Harvey and highlights African American women who have “made headlines” locally and nationally.
Visitors to the exhibit will find photos of area activists, educators and politicians alongside those of South African leader Winnie Mandela, Jackie Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson and the late Coretta Scott King, when they visited the capital city. There are also a number of “firsts” represented in the exhibit, with the inclusion of such notables as Kamala Harris, California’s first Black female Attorney General and Mary Kight, the local woman who became the first Black woman to head a national guard organization anywhere in the country.
“This is our small way of giving them their props,” Dalton shared.
Maryland shared his sentiment.
“I have great respect for all the women on the wall. We all appreciate what they’ve done for the community,” he said.
Dalton, Maryland and Harvey say they’ve been privileged to watch these women at work over the years.
“In covering them and their activities, we’ve developed a close relationship with these women over the last 30 years, unlike any other media, ” Dalton said.
Many of the featured women will be on hand as the photographers host a reception for the exhibit on Saturday, April 26. The event is set to run 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Underground Books, located at 2814 35th Street. The reception includes discussion of the featured women’s accomplishments and the stories behind their photos. Former television news reporter Karen Massie will emcee.
For more information on “A Portrait In Black,” call (916) 737-3333.