Nina Simone would likely be happy to know that her 1965 song, “Feeling Good,” along with other songs from that time period, inspired the Hood Museum of Art’s current exhibition “And I’m Feeling Good: Relaxation and Resistance.” Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, on the campus of Dartmouth College, the museum drew from its expansive collection of photographs to showcase photography that celebrates Black lives and community along with simple moments of beauty, and the importance of being positive and joyful.
Songs performed during the Civil Rights Movement inspired Black Americans to have hope and to embrace the happy moments in their lives. The songs underscore the importance of maintaining positive feelings about life, no matter the circumstances and challenges. It’s no wonder they inspired photographers Gordon Parks, Kwame Brathwaite, Darryl DeAngelo Terrell and Chester Higgins, whose works are in the exhibition.
Given Black history and the rise in brutality towards Black communities the exhibition speaks to the need to recognize and celebrate joyful moments in Black life. The late Gordon Parks recognized that. He became known as a documentary photojournalist between 1940 and the 1970s for his works on civil rights, poverty and African Americans. In 1956, his series of photographs about segregation in the south for Life Magazine captured the daily lives of Black residents in Alabama. One of his works in the exhibit shows two girls collecting water from a puddle in toy teacups. Another photograph captures a dignified older couple in their garden. It’s significant that these two photographic portraits are untitled, allowing the subjects to represent themselves.
Kwame Brathwaite, who died last year, found inspiration in the writings of Marcus Garvey and other Black writers. His photography created visual expressions of the “Black is Beautiful” movement in the late 1950s and early ‘60s. His career spanned six decades that allowed him to document the intersection of music, fashion, activism and art. His untitled urban playground image, taken in 1971, shares the sight of children swinging next to the building where they live. It’s a safe space where neighbors can watch over them, conveying a sense of community. “Changing Times,” taken in 1973, is an iconic portrait of a spirited, self- appreciating woman who hugs herself in a sensual way, claiming her identity with pride.