Half of 50 years ago

[Bob Rogers]

The news has been full of stories of the March on Washington, 50 years ago tomorrow. It got me thinking of this photo I took 25 years ago -- half way between then and now -- I've always called it Black Guy Being Painted White. It shows a group of drama students performing on the steps of Patee Library (Penn State). It was a completely silent production I think. I remember it was unannounced -- spot news. This photo ran on page one of the Daily Collegian on April 28, 1988. I wish I had the negative, instead of a fading print, and a yellowed piece of news print.

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[Asher Kelman]

The news has been full of stories of the March on Washington, 50 years ago tomorrow. It got me thinking of this photo I took 25 years ago -- half way between then and now -- I've always called it Black Guy Being Painted White. It shows a group of drama students performing on the steps of Patee Library (Penn State). It was a completely silent production I think. I remember it was unannounced -- spot news. This photo ran on page one of the Daily Collegian on April 28, 1988. I wish I had the negative, instead of a fading print, and a yellowed piece of news print.

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I remember the other campus image, from Kent State, with the girl screaming. That set the standard for iconography for campus conscience that's hard to meet.

Here, the picture is also startling. Guerrilla art, I suppose. So for sure you have the negative somewhere in an envelope in a bashed in shoe box forgotten at the back of a closet.

Asher