African American Men Getting Haircuts Outside, Natchez Mississippi, 1940

The photo of African American men waiting their turn to get their hair cut outside in Natchez, Mississippi by Marion Post Wolcott is part of a larger body of work known as the Farm Security Administration (FSA) photographs. The FSA was a New Deal agency established in the 1930s to help improve the living and working conditions of rural Americans during the Great Depression.

Marion Wolcott was a photographer for the FSA, and her work documented the lives of rural Americans, including African Americans, during this period of economic and social change. Her photo of African American men waiting their turn to get their hair cut outside in Natchez, Mississippi likely offers a glimpse into the daily life and cultural traditions of African Americans in the rural South during the 1930s.

In the photo, the men are depicted waiting patiently for their turn to get their hair cut. This scene likely took place in a barbershop, which was a common gathering place for African American men in many rural communities. The barbershop was not only a place to get haircuts, but also a place to socialize, exchange news, and engage in community life.