A prolific chronicler of the Beat Generation writers in New York and San Francisco, James O. Mitchell also photographed Harlem street scenes and Black beauty shops. Why has his impressive body of work remained unknown? Mitchell’s archive is rife with street photography of his former neighborhood in Harlem, scenes that move between the jubilance of children as they played outdoors, idiosyncrasies of the buildings and signage, and a consistent expression of moments in the minutiae of daily life. “Though Mitchell is no longer with us, he has left behind a trove of images for us to learn from and critique,” writes Delphine Sims. “His love for the medium was fierce.” See our link in bio to read more by Delphine Sims on James O. Mitchell’s expressive and evocative portraits. All photographs by James O. Mitchell © the artist and courtesy Estate of James O. Mitchell