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James Lewis, 1887. Creator: Unknown
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James Lewis, 1887. Creator: Unknown
James Lewis, 1887. African-American soldier and politician, born enslaved. His father was a white planter. Lewis worked on steamboats on the Mississippi, and in New Orleans he helped organize the First Louisiana Volunteer Native Guards, becoming a captain. From "Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising" by William J. Simmons
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Media ID 36258401
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Black History Cleveland Cleveland O Cultural Heritage Equal Rights Ethnicity G M Rewell Co G M Rewell Company Heritage Human Rights Mixed Race New York Public Library Nypl O Cleveland Portraits Public Library Rewell And Co Rewell G M Co Rewell G M Company Rights Schomburg Center For Research Simmons Simmons William J William J William J Simmons Afro American
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph captures James Lewis, an African-American soldier and politician, born into slavery in the late 19th century. His father was a white planter, making Lewis part of the complex and fraught racial landscape of the time. Despite his origins, Lewis went on to work on steamboats on the Mississippi River and, in New Orleans, helped organize the First Louisiana Volunteer Native Guards, rising to the rank of captain. The image, taken around 1887, shows Lewis as a mature man with a thick beard, dressed in the uniform of a military officer. He gazes directly at the camera with a steady and determined expression, his posture confident and proud. At the time, this was a remarkable achievement for a black man, as opportunities for advancement were limited and racial discrimination was rampant. Lewis' story is one of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. He is an important figure in African-American history, and his legacy continues to inspire generations. This photograph is a testament to his courage and his contributions to the struggle for equal rights and human dignity. The image is from "Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising," a book by William J. Simmons published in 1911. It is now part of the extensive collections of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library.
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