C. 1900 Integrated Saloon Interior with Black African American Patrons Rare Photo

  
Silver gelatin print on cardboard mount. Three white men stand at the bar, which is tended by three bartenders. At right stand three black men, a black woman, and another white man. All have glasses raised in a toast. Crack in bottom right corner of mount, resulting in minor loss of emulsion and a small chip in print.

A fascinating image on many levels, showing one of the last of the old-time saloons to close as the curtain came down on that era, and the era of the speakeasy began. The man behind the bar next to the cash register is probably the owner of the establishment. Prohibition would have spelled the demise of his profession (above-ground anyway) but he doesn't seem fazed. Not only is his clientele racially integrated, but also sexually, both in contravention of existing social norms. The times were changing, in ways the temperance folk never anticipated.

I have seen hundreds of saloon interiors, and can recall only one or two that were racially integrated, and those had African American servers, not customers. The same applies to women. A photo of Black men and women being served at the bar in Jim Crow America is about as rare as it gets. (print); 9 x 7 in.