Photograph of Stevie Wonder at the 20th Anniversary March on Washington: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Stevie Wonder standing at a podium above a large banner during the twentieth anniversary of the March on Washington, August 27, 1983. Wonder is depicted on the right side of the image wearing a white track suit with a dark stripe running down his side. He is depicted in three-quarters profile, holding a microphone with his proper right hand. There are several other people standing on the stage, including two policemen. Directly below Wonder is a partially visible banner with white text that reads, [20th Annive[rsary] / [Au]gust 27, 1983]. Hanging from the stage on the left side of the image is a large, painted banner depicting Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. King. King is painted in three-quarters bust pose with his proper right hand resting on his chin and his proper right index finger on his cheek.

On the verso of the image are handwritten inscriptions that provide the image date, event information, location, image number, the name of the printer, and the signature of the donor. There are also two (2) stamp marks in black ink in the bottom right corner of the verso.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: August 27, 1983; printed 2013
• Photograph by: Leonard Freed, American, 1929 - 2006
• Subject of: Stevie Wonder, American, born 1950
• Subject of: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., American, 1929 - 1968
• Subject of: 20th Anniversary March on Washington, founded 1983
• Printed by: Brigitte Freed, American
• Printed by: Pablo Inirio
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 8 3/4 × 13 in. (22.2 × 33 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 11 × 13 15/16 in. (27.9 × 35.4 cm)
• Place captured: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place printed: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Activism
• Topic: Civil Rights
• Topic: Local and regional
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Politics
• Topic: Race relations
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2016.123.2.25
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Brigitte Freed in memory of Leonard Freed
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Leonard Freed & Magnum Photos, Inc Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.