The week's blog topic is about Jamaica’s activist and national hero, Paul Bogle and American dry-cleaning pioneer Thomas Jennings.
The topic of debate lies in the image used to represent these individuals. If you google both Bogle and Jennings, you will see the same picture representing both. So the question is asked, who is who? Many articles, speculations and accusations have been made over the years but before I dive into the matter, here's a quick introduction of these men.
Paul Bogle (1822-1865) led the last large-scale armed Jamaican rebellion for voting rights and an end to legal discrimination and economic oppression against African Jamaicans. Because of his efforts, Bogle was recognized as a national hero in Jamaica in 1969. His face appears on the Jamaican two-dollar bill and 10-cent coin. [Source: Wooten, A. (2013, October 13)]
Thomas L. Jennings (1791- 1856) was the first black man to receive a patent. The patent was awarded on March 3, 1821 (US Patent 3306x) for his discovery of a process called dry-scouring which was the forerunner of today’s modern dry-cleaning. Jennings was born free in New York City, New York in 1791. [Source: Manos, N. (2009, February 02)]
Now I cannot say who the image belongs to. My natural conclusion would be Paul Bogle but my opinion may be biased being that I am from Jamaica. But further research has placed the matter in a brighter light. Some of these will be linked below:
Here are 3 deciding factors for deducing who the image belongs to.
The image used to represent both men is called a tintype. It was introduced in the 1850s. In 1856 it was patented by Hamilton Smith in the United States and by William Kloen in the United Kingdom. Thomas Jennings died in 1856 at the age of 65 years. Linking the discovery of the tintype to the life span of Thomas Jennings, it is safe to deduce that he had to be about 60+ years in the photograph. So either Jennings aged really well or it wasn’t him as the person seen in the image is younger. Paul Bogle, at that time. would have been in his mid 30's.
The next factor would be the clothing. Some arguments raised against Paul being the person in the image was about the suit worn in the image, the ability of Paul to have a photograph taken and his age. Paul was a deacon. The black suit worn by the persona in the image was a typical mode of dress for a minister. The ability to have your photograph taken in that era, you would have to be of some wealth and social status. Paul was a free black man, a deacon who owned land and was able to vote. In regards to Jennings, due to his various experimentation with cleaning products, he was wealthy, allowing him to buy freedom for his wife and children, as well as fund numerous abolitionist efforts
Research shows that Jamaica has made efforts to have the matter rectified and have the photo authenticated. National archives, family members and other sources have deemed that it is indeed Paul Bogle. The Jamaican Gleaner spoke with University of the West Indies lecturer, social historian, and Paul Bogle scholar, Dr Clinton Hutton, who said that there were strong reasons to believe the picture of Bogle was taken at Duperley’s, the same studio in which George William Gordon, Bogle’s associate, took his. The photo, the article said, was put into the custody of the Institute of Jamaica. On the other hand, Americans have just simply stated it is Jennings without any notable proof. My research has not revealed much rectification from the US.
The tintype was discovered in 1971 but the question still remains, how did these individuals end up having the same image?
Share your thoughts in the comments below, who do you think the image belongs to?
I hope you all learned something until next time,
Be Liv-Tastic!!
References
“Stop Asking, It Is Paul Bogle.” Lead Stories | Jamaica Gleaner, 9 Oct. 2018, https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20181009/stop-asking-it-paul-bogle.
Xxxxx. “Thomas Jennings: African American Inventor.” BHA, http://www.myblackhistory.net/Thomas_Jennings.htm.
“An Early Patent Awarded to Thomas Jennings Was the Forerunner to Quality Dry Cleaning and Laundry Services.” An Early Patent Awarded to Thomas Jennings Was the Forerunner to Quality Dry Cleaning and Laundry Services | Flossmoor, IL - Official Website.
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