Races, Negroes: United States. Virginia. Hampton. Hampton Normal and Industrial School: Environments Impeding the Assimilation of the Negro. Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, Hampton, Va. 1899 - 1900

Editor: This is a photographic print by Frances Benjamin Johnston titled "Races, Negroes: United States. Virginia. Hampton. Hampton Normal and Industrial School: Environments Impeding the Assimilation of the Negro." It presents two contrasting scenes, both featuring wells. What stands out to you in terms of the artist's intention? Curator: Johnston seems to be interested in the construction of identity through labor. The juxtaposition implies a commentary on the material conditions imposed upon Black communities, specifically related to education and assimilation. How do the different types of wells function as symbols here? Editor: Are you suggesting that the wells, as essential resources, represent disparities in access and opportunity based on race? Curator: Precisely. The "old cabin" suggests a reliance on older modes of production, while the "graduate's house" depicts an aspiration towards a more modern and seemingly "civilized" existence through newer technology, each reflecting distinct forms of labor and social contexts. Editor: I see. It's not just about the images themselves, but also the social and economic systems that produced these contrasting realities. Thanks for shedding light on that!