Harlem Merchant, 1937.

Photograph by Morris Engel .

There is more to this photograph than meets the eye. For many years, a major grievance of Harlem residents was that the merchants in their neighbor-hood were white, and, in many instances, Jewish. This defiant looking storekeeper seems to be affirming the right of his people to conduct business in their surroundings. The viewer is also impressed by the variety of items on display, from cough drops to a (we hope) toy pistol.

Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York City.