I don’t know if this is the right place to post this, but I really want to share it. This is a still from a 1911 documentary travelogue of New York City, made by a team of cameramen from the Swedish company Svenska Biografteatern, who were sent around the world to film well-known places. I’ll attach the full video from the Museum of Modern Art archives, timestamp 3:42: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx5sUa_2SD8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx5sUa_2SD8)
I haven’t been able to find any info or commentary on this short clip. It’s brief, but these two young men walking on the bridge caught my attention. One is white, the other Black, and they’re holding hands. Interracial friendships in a diverse place like New York City in 1911 aren’t impossible, especially at that age, but seeing them physically show affection like this really surprised me.
I know ideas of masculinity have changed over time. Men often showed more physical closeness back then than in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, and now younger generations are embracing it again. Still, seeing two interracial male friends hold hands in 1911 feels remarkable.
It’s tempting to think they were doing it for the camera, but judging by their expressions and the way the scene unfolds, they don’t seem entirely aware of being filmed until they’re already passing the camera. I’m not saying anything about their sexuality, it’s just surprising that this would have been socially acceptable at the time. I’m interested to hear your thoughts.
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I don’t know if this is the right place to post this, but I really want to share it. This is a still from a 1911 documentary travelogue of New York City, made by a team of cameramen from the Swedish company Svenska Biografteatern, who were sent around the world to film well-known places. I’ll attach the full video from the Museum of Modern Art archives, timestamp 3:42: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx5sUa_2SD8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx5sUa_2SD8)
I haven’t been able to find any info or commentary on this short clip. It’s brief, but these two young men walking on the bridge caught my attention. One is white, the other Black, and they’re holding hands. Interracial friendships in a diverse place like New York City in 1911 aren’t impossible, especially at that age, but seeing them physically show affection like this really surprised me.
I know ideas of masculinity have changed over time. Men often showed more physical closeness back then than in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, and now younger generations are embracing it again. Still, seeing two interracial male friends hold hands in 1911 feels remarkable.
It’s tempting to think they were doing it for the camera, but judging by their expressions and the way the scene unfolds, they don’t seem entirely aware of being filmed until they’re already passing the camera. I’m not saying anything about their sexuality, it’s just surprising that this would have been socially acceptable at the time. I’m interested to hear your thoughts.