2009.1.9

In the center foreground (in-close, low angle) is an elderly African-American woman in a wheelchair, flanked by two middle-aged African-American men, who are kneeling behind her, and behind them is a single-story stucco house. The subjects are on the house's well-trimmed lawn. It is a bright day. The woman appears pleased. She is wearing glasses (of an old style, with a horn-rimmed top and steel-framed lower portion) and a knit cap (or a braided wig?), with a quilted blanket over her lap, upon which sit her arthritic hands. The man over her right (proper) shoulder is looking down at her and smiling proudly. He is has a graying trimmed beard, and is wearing a striped polo shirt; in his left (proper) hand (resting on his left knee) is a pair of sunglasses). The other man, over her right (proper) shoulder, is looking out toward the viewer. He has a mustache and is wearing tinted "aviator" style glasses, a light-toned t-shirt, and a cross on a chain around his neck. On his right (proper) knee rests his right hand, which is holding a piece of paper or envelope. Both men have a ring on both their ring fingers, and both wear a steel-banded watch on their left (proper) wrists. At the bottom of the image is the text in blue ballpoint pen, "After." On verso is the test in black felt-tip pen, "Mary Melton in front of her freshly painted house. L) John McDonald / R) Floyd Whitehead helped her paint the house. Also on verso are the identifying stamps, "Tribune Photo by Wendy Lamm." Also on verso are two date stamps, "Sep 18 1992" and (below it, smeared somewhat) "Sep 17 1992."

Used: Oakland Tribune