- Dawoud Bey
- A Man Wearing an Adami Baseball Cap, Brooklyn, NY, 1989
- gelatin silver photograph
- 21.4375 x 17 in
- Framed: 30 x 25 x 1 in
- Inv: 2020.006
Bey’s striking black-and-white portrait A Man Wearing an Adami Baseball Cap, Brooklyn, NY captures an unnamed man wearing a weathered work jacket and a cap bearing the logo of “Adami Construction Co. Inc.” He leans casually against a railing, his gaze reflecting a lifetime of labor, perseverance, and quiet dignity. During the 1980s and 1990s, Brooklyn’s working-class Black families faced mounting challenges. The decline of manufacturing, urban disinvestment, rising crime, and the crack epidemic disproportionately impacted Black communities. Harsh sentencing laws worsened these struggles, increasing incarceration rates and fracturing families. Many men like the one pictured here navigated these systemic barriers and found work in construction and other trades—determined to provide for their families despite dwindling opportunities. Community organizations and grassroots movements fought for economic empowerment, justice, and improved living conditions, offering critical support. This portrait stands as a testament to the endurance and strength of Brooklyn’s Black working class, capturing not just an individual but the spirit of a generation that withstood adversity with quiet determination.
- Attribution: Gift of Michael and Jeanne Klein to Art Galleries at Black Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, 2020.006