Since its inception in the waning years of American slavery, photography has served many masters and many purposes: Since early in its history, it was used to reinforce racist social roles and attitudes. Over the years, however, it increasingly provided an affordable means to reinforce individual, family and community identity, pride and affection. By providing photographic examples across the arc of this varied history, this exhibit is meant to provide a prompt for discussion at a time in particular need of historical honesty.