A biography of James Van Der Zee, innovative and celebrated African American photographer of the Harlem Renaissance.
Winner of Lee & Low\'s New Voices Award, Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee tells the story of a groundbreaking artist who chronicled an important era in Harlem and showed the beauty and pride of its people..
Everyone wanted fancy portraits by James VanDerZee.
He took photographs of legendary figures of the Harlem Renaissance-politicians such as Marcus Garvey, performers including Florence Mills, Bill Bojangles Robinson, and Mamie Smith-and ordinary folks in the neighborhood too.
After being told by his boss that no one would want his or her photo taken by a black man, James opened his own portrait studio in Harlem.
Eventually he outgrew his small town and moved to the exciting, fast-paced world of New York City.
By the fifth grade, James was the school photographer and unofficial town photographer.
He took photos of his family, classmates, and anyone who would sit still for a portrait.
James VanDerZee was just a young boy when he saved enough money to buy his first camera.
A biography of James Van Der Zee, innovative and celebrated African American photographer of the Harlem Renaissance
