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A group of African American males walking in Savannah at the corner of Bull Street and W. Bryan…
Benjamin Van Clark Leading a March, Bull Street
A group of African American males walking in Savannah at the corner of Bull Street and W. Bryan…
A group of African American males walking in Savannah at the corner of Bull Street and W. Bryan Street. One of the men is carrying the American flag.
Benjamin Van Clark Leading a March, Bull Street, Frederick Baldwin, 1963, gelatin silver print, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, Georgia, © Fred Baldwin.

Benjamin Van Clark Leading a March, Bull Street

Artist (American, 1929 - 2021)
Date1963
Mediumgelatin silver print
DimensionsSheet: 14 × 10 15/16 inches (35.6 × 27.8 cm)
Image: 13 1/16 × 8 5/8 inches (33.2 × 21.9 cm)
Matted: 20 × 16 inches (50.8 × 40.6 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase.
Object number2009.3.23
On View
Not on view
Copyright© Fred Baldwin. The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextThe 1960s-era struggle for civil rights in the United States spawned many indelible images, as black and white photographers chronicled brave and hopeful protests along with the brutality with which they were often met. Acclaimed American photographer Bruce Davidson received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1961 to document “Youth in America.” Moved by the courage of the freedom riders and nonviolent protests and marches, Davidson turned his lens to the young activists fighting for equal rights during the Civil Rights movement. In Savannah, photographer Frederick C. Baldwin offered his services to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Chatham County Crusade for Voters, documenting voter registration drives and daily marches in opposition to segregation. A significant leader in Savannah’s fight for civil rights, Benjamin Van Clark began participating in protests as a high school student.Taken in the summer of 1963, this image shows the 19-year-old Clark leading a group from City Hall down Bull Street to Wright Square, where fellow leader Hosea Williams addressed demonstrators. Clark’s face is resolute as he advances through the midday heat, a man behind him chanting and holding a flag in front of another with a bandaged cheek. More than documentation, this powerful image connects past protests with those seen today. Text written for 'Youthful Adventures: Growing Up in Photography' on view September 18, 2020-April 18, 2021.
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