Peaches, Carissa, Kee Kee, and Melissa, Cape Charles, Virginia 1999

"Peaches, Carissa, Kee Kee, and Melissa, Cape Charles, Virginia" is a black and white photograph taken by Mary Ellen Mark in 1999. The photograph depicts four young African American girls in Cape Charles, Virginia, posing with a bicycle. Mark is known for her candid and often intimate portraits of marginalized communities, which explore themes of poverty, identity, and resilience. This image exemplifies her style, capturing a moment of carefree camaraderie amongst the girls in their everyday environment. The photograph, which is part of Mark’s larger project on the American South, is a powerful and evocative glimpse into the lives of these young people.