Red Bone Boy from the Colored People Series

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One of the leading contemporary artists working with conceptual photography, Carrie Mae Weems examines prejudice in 'Red Bone Boy'. “Colored” is a term white people have used to label blacks while refusing to recognize them as individuals; “red bone” is an example of terms African-Americans have used to describe other blacks. By “coloring” the photographs of her young subject with brightly hued tones, Weems emphasizes how inadequately “black” describes a multi-colored and diverse race. At the same time, she addresses the situation where light-skinned blacks are often perceived as receiving preferential treatment over those with darker, or more “African,” skin.

Keywords

African American
American
Boy
Gelatin Silver
Male
Photography
Portrait
Text in art