The artwork titled “Sign on a restaurant We Cater to White Trade Only” was created by Ben Shahn in 1938. It is a photograph that belongs to the Social Realism art movement, a genre that aims to draw attention to the real socio-political conditions of the time, typically with a focus on the working class and the poor.
The photograph depicts a sign displayed in a window behind a set of bars. The sign, written in bold capital letters, reads “WE CATER TO WHITE TRADE ONLY,” starkly indicating a segregated establishment that practices racial discrimination by serving only white customers. This image is emblematic of the segregation era in the United States, capturing the racial tensions and institutional discrimination prevalent during the 1930s. The sign’s candid declaration and its placement behind bars could metaphorically suggest the societal entrapment and exclusion experienced by people of color at the time. Ben Shahn’s photo serves not only as a document of historical significance but also as a powerful statement against the injustices of racial segregation.