Easy Rider

This young man (name unknown) is seated on an Indian Chief, a model that was introduced by the Indian Motorcycle Company in 1920 (the spelling of this Motorcycle refers to a 19th century horseless carriage and was used to distinguish the company from other motorcycle makers). This was one of the most popular bikes sold by the firm, which produced different variations of this model into the 1940s.

Sources: African American Vernacular Photography; Selections from the Daniel Cowin Collection