Alex Deliso -- Annotated Bib no.3

Observation:

There are four boys, three of which are standing on raised areas above the fourth. The three boys are dressed in long pants, dress shoes, long-sleeve dress shirts, while the boy below them is wearing a collared T-shirt and jeans. At least two of the boys above are wearing ties, and none of the boys standing above are standing conventional spots (they are all on ledges and windowsills as opposed to the stairs). The boy below is standing under a fire escape holding up what appears to be a rod of some sort. The others are looking down at him. To the right of the boy on the ground is a barred window. At the top of the rightmost set of stairs is a sign that reads “La Blanche Lingerie”. The leftmost boy is holding his arms out and bracing them against the balcony next to him, while the rightmost boy is sitting on the railing.

Inference:

As quoted by the excerpt from Roy DeCarava, Harlem, and the Psychic Self, DeCarava said that he “was always the new kid on the block. [He] never had a chance to take roots where there does exist, in poor areas, a history—a tradition” (134). With this in mind, this photograph can be interpreted as a social commentary—where the “new kid” is on a literal lower-level from those from a higher class, which can be represented through the “higher-leveled” kids’ clothing. However, DeCarava outright denounces this idea of social commentary in his photographs (149), so it may not be accurate to bounce it off of those ideals. Even with DeCarava’s word about his authorial intent, the photographs by themselves can still hold these ideals if the context is not given. If DeCarava is removed from the equation and only the photo stands alone, this photo can easily represent the story of an outsider who is seen as lesser than the others because he has not conformed. The emphasis is placed on the white shirts and the “blanche lingerie” sign that contrast greatly with the darker backdrop, which may represent conforming to “white” standards, but they still retain their original presence despite this supposed change in ideals.