This unknown young man I singled out and drew from a family portrait taken by James Van Der Zee in the 1920s. Van Der Zee set up a photography studio in Harlem during the “Harlem Renaissance,” and captured an incredible slice of life, as well as important figures of the day. From what I can find, this family has been noted only as a “Garveyite family,” meaning they were involved with a major African American (and international) social movement inspired by the writing of Marcus Garvey popular in the early 20th century, who placed an emphasis on improving the standing of black people collectively through individual and community educational and cultural empowerment.
Ciana Pullen 2011