black women: a place in history  

LeRoy Henderson

For four decades LeRoy Henderson has photographed African American culture.  His black and white photographs in this exhibition of well-known women show the women at candid moments in their lives.  Among them are Shirley Chishom on the phone, anxiously awaiting election results during her first run for congress in 1968, Fannie Louhamer, the domestic help, who challenged the all white democratic delegation from Mississipi in 1964, for not having a black candidate on the ticket, Betty Carter at the piano, smiling with pleasure, having just won a Grammy, Alice Walker at a party for Alex Haley, looking radiant, and a moving photograph of two women in academic robes, Betty Shabazz, Malcome X’ widow and Myrlie Evans, the widow of the civil rights martyr Medgar Evans.   

LeRoy Henderson’s work has been exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum, the Smithonian Institute in Washington, The Studio Museum in Harlem, the Schomburg Center and the June Kelly Gallery among many other venues.  His work is in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Museum. 

DIRECTIONS:

Take 2, 3, or 4 trains to Franklin Avenue. Walk two blocks against the traffic on Franklin. Walk ¾ block to 558 St. Johns Place. FiveMyles is within easy walking distance from the Brooklyn Museum.