Tayari's Blog: Greetings from Johnson City, TN
Posted by TayariJones on March 22, 2007 07:34 PM
Filed under
Travels & Rambles
I used to live here, actually. (That's a story for tomorrow.) I've returned to East Tennessee State University to give a reading, and to do some shopping. About three years ago, I saw a framed portrait in an antique shop. If I could have afforded it, I would have gladly bought it.
The portrait is of an African American couple, dressed to the nines. The date on the frame was 1923 and it bears all the hallmarks of the period. I've always been fascinaated in well-to-do black folks from that time. These people were not Vanderzee's Harlemites. The man and the woman were a southern couple, dressed fine but not sharp. One word comes to mind, dignified.
Photography was a luxury at the turn of the century. I don't come from one of those black families that have been rich for generations. I have never even been to Martha's Vineyard, let alone own property there.
For the last three years, I have been unable to get the portrait out of my head and I decided to visit the antique shop when I was here in East Tennessee. I figured the photo would still be available-- afterall, when I lived here, I pretty much WAS the entire black population of Johnson City, TN. Who would buy it if not me?
Well, I finally made it to the shop, but there was no sign of the picture with the tag, "Negro Couple". I was too shy to inquire about it, also I was hoping maybe my memory failed me, that the picture of the couple was in another shop.
My friend, Crystal, went back to the shop after I'd gone and asked after the portrait and came to me with bad news.
"Somebody else bought it," she said.
"Oh," I said sadly. "At least its got a home."
"Well," Crystal said. "Not exactly. The lady said the people who bought it told her they only wanted the frame."
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There are 5 comments on "Greetings from Johnson City, TN". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by dwayne ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
tayari,
that it is sad. patricia smith sent all the folks in last summer's cc workshops pictures from that period and we had to right persona poems as the folks. it was cool, and really interesting what came out. i later found out that alot of times, the clothes they had on weren't even theirs, but the photographers. i can't believe someone just wanted the frame.
March 22, 2007 10:32 PM
Comment #2, by Michael Fischer
Very sad story.
March 22, 2007 11:59 PM
Comment #3, by Gentlifur
Get in touch with the local museum there to see if they can help you hunt down the photo, etc. Go back to the shop (call, email, etc) and see if you can get some more information. That is really sad of why the picture was bought! I doubt that the picture was destroyed. It is somewhere there in TN. I have hope for the picture to find you! =) Do not be shy on this one if you really want it!!
March 23, 2007 12:53 AM
Comment #4, by rebecca
i'm sorry to hear about that photograph, and especially the people only being interested in the frame. also sorry i missed seeing you last night. i so wanted to come, but i have accordion lessons on thursdays and missed the one last week. i hope that your visit was nice, despite the lack of lovely antique photo.
March 23, 2007 10:45 AM
Comment #5, by Mendi O.
ugh. but please do keep trying. and let us know when you find it. i'm hoping you will.
March 23, 2007 05:27 PM