Chicken Bone Beach

Vintage African American Photography



Barbara Herbert, Mildred Smith and Joan Berry
on Chicken Bone Beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Barbara Herbert, Mildred Smith and Joan Berry on Chicken Bone Beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Herbert (Left), Smith (Center), and Berry (Right) posed on Chicken Bone Beach. Chicken Bone Beach was the segregated section for African Americans on Atlantic City's beach area. Between 1900 and the early 1950s, African Americans were socially restricted to use the Missouri Avenue Beach Area. Since many vacationing Black families arrived with chicken-laden hampers, the strip became affectionately named "Chicken Bone Beach." Circa. 1940's










1950's bathing beauties on Chicken Bone beach. Mrs. Edith Green (l.) !!!!

Four African American women and a young boy posing on Chicken Bone Beach. Between 1900 and the early 1950s, African Americans were socially restricted to use the Missouri Avenue Beach Area. Since many vacationing Black families arrived with chicken-laden hampers, the strip became affectionately named “Chicken Bone Beach.” Circa. 1950s Photo Credit: The Temple University Urban Archives




The women on the left is Mrs. Edith Green. I believe Mrs. Green is still living and still looks fantastic. We attended the same church; St. Augustine of Atlantic City. I believe this is Missouri avenue Beach affectionately called by some the "Chickenbone Beach" - William Demones 9/2/15






1960's bathing beauties

I remember this era. Negro women wore elegance and any education they had close to their composure. It was a defense for the times. It controlled men's action and dictated behavior for younger women and let each woman live up to their family names. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 9/2/15

 

teacher

elegant Halle Berry in blue floral dress 

elegant woman, Joan Collins, actress  

"To be an elegant woman is not the standard for poor white and Black girls in their circumstances today. It is evident all over the place. But, why and why not? Whose responsibility is to train and develop our daughters into women? With girls taught as young as six to use their bodies to get what they want from boys or men where would such a child wind up as an adult? It doesn't have to be prostitution. That field isn't the only option. Elegance with substance distinguishes each culture. Each culture's women tell the story of their world, and how they fare is either reflected or masked in women's fashion, and style and approach to their lives by their men tells the other side of lives they live or endure. Women are storytellers. Their bodies tell stories and their eyes go deeper into the stories men create for them. Their stories tell who the men of their cultures are to them, and what the men believe about women..." 

Gregory E. Woods
Keeper of Stories 
2.13.15 

1940's look for white women 

elegant Black woman - Natasha Ellie seated in a chair !!!!
2014 

Lady DAY

IRock JAZZ

Billy Holiday jamming at the LIFE magazine studios singing "Fine and Mellow". There amongst the musicians is drummer Cozy Cole and trombonist J.J.Johnson in 1941. 

Down the street. . .

Hep cat on the town!
1940's

Yeah, the styles worn in the 1940's said several things to different audiences. Back then Colored folk had to create, and define themselves in ways no longer relevant. The negotiations with manipulative forces constantly on the look out to rob Negroes of dignity, home, life, and status were continuous, varied, and colorful. The thing missing in this statue is color, but that doesn't matter. The artist captured the spirit of the times, the dance of their style, and the hipness of the couple glidin', profilin', and styling down the main strip!!! - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 5.20.13



Appreciation 4 Thickness