"I Helped Hang Poverty" Noose, 1969

Scope and content:

1-miniature white hangman's noose. Attached to the top of the noose is a brown tag. The brown tag reads "POOR PEOPLE'S PRODUCTS" in a circle and "I Helped Hang Poverty" below it. Inside the circular "POOR PEOPLE'S PRODUCT" is a square that has text within it that reads, "THIS IS TO CERTIFY THE PRODUCT YOU HAVE PURCHASED IS GENUINE." The "I Helped Hang Poverty" noose was propaganda used by the Poor People's Campaign to bring attention to the plight of poor Americans. The Poor People's Campaign was an movement organized by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1968 with the aim of demanding economic and human rights for economically disadvantaged Americans of all races. The noose measures approximately 16in (tag included) and is in fair condition. The noose itself has suffered from discoloration and the rope edges that tie the noose together are frayed. In addition, there are black stains on the first three spirals of the noose and the left side of the knot that holds the tag. The tag has creases in the middle and is torn from the top right corner to the middle. There is white discoloration and a small brown stain above the "I" in "I Helped Hang Poverty" and there is a large brown stain under the word "Poverty." On the back of the tag there are large black spots along the top of the tag near the knot that holds the tag. There is also a small black stain on the bottom left corner of the tag. Located in the Manuscripts Artifact Collection, Textiles. Mss 2014.006.03

Access and use