Photographic print of Me Phi Me in Bryant Park, New York: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black and white photograph of Me Phi Me shirtless in Bryant Park, New York City.

Me stands in the center of the image, his face turned towards the camera and his body turned sideways, his arms wrapped around his chest and shoulders. He is smiling widely and looking at the camera. A raised branding scar in the shape of a sword and circle is visible on his proper left shoulder. Trees and then tall city buildings are visible behind him, including the top of the New York Public Library main building.

On the back of the print is an inscription handwritten by Bill Adler identifying the subject, location, date, and photographer.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: May 15, 1992
• Photograph by: Al Pereira, American, born 1963
• Subject of: Me Phi Me, American, born 1970
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 13 7/8 × 10 15/16 in. (35.2 × 27.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 13 × 8 5/8 in. (33 × 21.9 cm)
• Place captured: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Musicians
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Rappers (Musicians)
• Topic: Urban life
• Object number: 2015.132.297
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• 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: © Al Pereira Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.