The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of May 4, 2024
All night prayer and gospel meeting in the "Moving Star Hall," Johns Island, South Carolina
1965
(American, 1929–2006)
Image: 16 x 24 cm (6 5/16 x 9 7/16 in.); Paper: 20.1 x 25 cm (7 15/16 x 9 13/16 in.)
© Leonard Freed /Magnum Photos
Location: not on view
Description
“Because of the generally unhealthy climate and malaria [on Johns Island], the white land owners left the slaves alone to run the plantations by themselves,” noted Freed. “It remained one of the few places where the slaves continued speaking an African dialect.” Freed took this photograph on Christmas Eve at a “one-room, never-painted, wood” church where the islanders were carrying out the traditional Christmas Watch. “We pray until the light of day shines, then we know the Christ child has arrived,” they told Freed. —from Black in White America- Black in America: Louis Draper and Leonard Freed. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 26-July 30, 2017).
- {{cite web|title=All night prayer and gospel meeting in the "Moving Star Hall," Johns Island, South Carolina|url=false|author=Leonard Freed|year=1965|access-date=04 May 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2016.296