An exhibit at The International Center of Photography, 2002
I scoured those circus photos. forty or more.
Edward J. Kelty shot hundreds of performers,
in dozens of circuses, from the nineteen teens
to the nineteen forties: they included horses,
the late great original cowboy hero, Tom Mix;
a man named Agee, a human cannonball
bariing his chest and standing on his cannon;
elephants, lions, tigers, gorgeous autos,
not old timey then. but no black folk.
Of all the high wirers, animal tamers, ticket takers,
fancy tie wearers, plain tie wearers, and wearers
of razzledazzle epaulets; of cowgirls, clowns,
and dancing girls, there were two asian women,
among the white thighs, and one lone woman
who looked spanish, which may mean passing,
but no black folk.
one unbelievable mass photo stretching to a distance
has two hundred people looking up at a large view camera.
and one dark spot way in the rear.
in nineteen thirty six, new deal democrats funded a WPA
Circus, know that? at the very back of sixty circus folks,
four negro roustabouts.
Too bad negroes didn't like the circus more.
rd coleman