Blues bar in Chicago’s South Side, 1962
Life in the United States seemed quite black and white in the 50s and 60s, as segregation and racial tension turned to violence, the divide between rich and poor widened, and non-conformists were cast as criminals by the media.
Brooklyn gang, NYC, 1959
There was an excitement and energy in the air, and yet everyday life was quieter and far simpler, making for perfectly simple portraits without all the background noise you see nowadays in places like Los Angeles, Chicago or New York City.
New York City, 1962
The static of the digital age was still a long way off, and Magnum Photos agency photographer Bruce Davidson was out shooting warm and wonderful portraits that capture the vibe of the era by focusing on the people at the heart of it all.
Yves Montand, his wife Simone Signoret, Marilyn Monroe and her husband Arthur Miller at the Beverly Hills Hotel, California, 1960
Bruce traveled all over the country shooting pics of all kinds of different people, from famous folks like Marilyn Monroe and Diana Ross to everyday folks experiencing all the joy and pain from the front line.
Man dragged away by his feet during a CORE demonstration, NYC, 1964
See more fascinating photos from the 1950s and 1960s by Bruce Davidson here