40 Photos That Give A Window Into Black Life In Chicago In The '70s

John H. White was hired by the Environmental Protection Agency as a freelance photographer for the "Documerica Project." In addition to taking photos "relating to environmental problems," he was sent to capture images of "everyday life in the 1970s."

1.

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"A Young Black Man Showing His Muscle During A Small Community Program In Chicago On The South Side."

2.

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"South Side Group Of Black Children In Chicago At A Playground At 40th And Drexel Boulevard."

3.

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"Black Beauties With Colorful Hair Grace A Float During The Annual Bud Billiken Day Parade Along Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Drive On Chicago's South Side."

4.

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"The Kadats Of America, Chicago's Most Loved Young Black Drill Team, Shown Performing On A Sunday Afternoon At A Community Talent Show On The South Side."

5.

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"Black Family Enjoying The Summer Weather At Chicago's 12th Street Beach On Lake Michigan."

6.

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"A Black Band Performs At The Lake Meadows Shopping Center In Chicago."

7.

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"A Swimsuit Clad Black Woman Enjoys Her Summer Outing At Chicago's 12th Street Beach On Lake Michigan."

8.

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"Blacks And Whites Take To The Water At A 12th Street Beach On Lake Michigan On Chicago's South Side In The Summer Of 1973."

9.

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"Black Man Enjoying A Nap On A Chaise Lounge On Chicago's South Side."

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"Washington Park On Chicago's South Side Where Many Black Families Enjoy Picnicking During The Summer."

11.

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"Black Youngsters Performing On An Empty Lot At 5440 South Princeton Avenue On Chicago's South Side."

12.

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"Black Members Of The Chicago City Council During A Budget Hearing."

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"A Class Of Black Student Welders With Their Instructor At A Former Grade School In The Heart Of The Cabrini-green Housing Project."

14.

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"Black Student In A Black Studies Class In A West Side Chicago Classroom Reading A Book About Great Rulers In Africa's Past."

15.

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"Black Products And Services Was One Of The Themes At The Annual Black Expo Held In Chicago."

16.

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"Black Art And Culture Was One Of The Themes At The Annual Black Expo Held In Chicago."

17.

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"Vote Registration Drive Was One Aspect Of Black Expo."

18.

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"A Senior Citizens' March to Protest Inflation, Unemployment and High Taxes."

19.

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"Lerone Bennett, Well Known Black Writer Who Is Senior Editor At Ebony Magazine, In His Office At Johnson Publishing Company In Chicago."

20.

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"The Rev. Jesse Jackson Speaks On A Radio Broadcast From The Headquarters Of Operation Push, At Its Annual Convention."

21.

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"World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali, A Black Muslim, Attends The Sect's Service To Hear Elijah Muhammad Deliver The Annual Savior's Day Message In Chicago."

22.

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"'The Fruit Of Islam', A Special Group Of Bodyguards For Muslim Leader Elijah Muhammad, Sit At The Bottom Of The Platform While He Delivers His Annual Savior's Day Message In Chicago."

23.

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"Black Muslim Women Dressed In White Applaud Elijah Muhammad."

24.

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"Worshippers At Holy Angel Catholic Church On Chicago's South Side. It Is The City's Largest Black Catholic Church."

25.

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"Artist Ron Blackburn Painting An Outdoor Wall Mural At The Corner Of 33rd And Giles Streets In Chicago."

26.

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"Chicago Ghetto On The South Side."

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"Black Balloon Salesman On South Side Chicago's 47th Street Many Of The City's Black Business Owners Started With Small Operations Such As This And Grew By Working Hard."

28.

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"Black Ghetto Child Savors A Snow Cone Just Received From A Sidewalk Vendor On Chicago's West Side."

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"Black Man Operating A Newsstand In Chicago On The West Side The City Is Believed To Be The Black Business Capital Of The United States."

30.

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"Black Owned Business On Chicago's South Side."

31.

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"Black Couple And Their Dog In Their Apartment In South Side Chicago."

32.

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"Black Neighbors Outside On Chicago's West Side."

33.

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"Black Youths Play Basketball At Stateway Gardens' Highrise Housing Project On Chicago's South Side."

34.

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"Black Children Play Outside The Ida B. Wells Homes, One Of Chicago's Oldest Housing Projects."

35.

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"Minority Youngsters Who Gathered To Have Their Picture Taken On Chicago's South Side During A Community Talent Show."

36.

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"Black Youngsters Cool Off With Fire Hydrant Water On Chicago's South Side In The Woodlawn Community."

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"A Student At The Westinghouse Industrial Vocation School On Chicago's West Side."

38.

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"A Black Man, One Of Nearly 1.2 Million People Of His Race Who Make Up Over One Third Of Chicago's Population."

39.

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"Lake Meadows Apartment Complex On Chicago's South Side Inhabited 70% By Blacks."

40.

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"Sunrise On Lake Michigan With Chicago Shown In The Background."