A Vintage Vantage: Helmsley Wright

Recently I came across an image on-line of three bodybuilders from what I'm guessing was the 1950's.  Although many classic physique photographers shot body builders, rarely do you see them posing nude together.  Even rarer is to find three black body builders posing together in a professional poses and in a non-sexual way.  

I'm always so fascinated by models and photographers who shot nudes in a time before it was even legal.  Even more impressed with black men working in an industry that didn't always welcome them.  It was risky for white artists and models, but for men of color, the risk was even greater. One of the models in focus was Helmsley Wright, an African-American professional bodybuilder who competed throughout the 1940's and 1950's.  

Wright is best known for competing during a foundational era of American bodybuilding.  Although there were a few integrated competitions, Wright mostly competed alongside other prominent Black bodybuilders. While some integrated contests occurred under the[Amateur Athletic Union.  (AAU) Systemic racism prevented Black athletes from winning major titles like Mr. America, with no Black competitor claiming the crown until 1970.

The nude shots featured Wright alongside fellow bodybuilders Wilbur Gaillard & Julian Jackson.  The nudes were taken by legendary physique photographer Lon Hanagan (known professionally as Lon of NY).  Wright built a world-class, classically proportioned physique during an era when the sport's governing institutions deeply discriminated against minority athletes. 

Wright with fellow bodybuilders Wilbur Gaillard & Julian Jackson

While mainstream competitions of his era often denied equal recognition to African-American lifters, Wright's physique remains preserved through historic physique photography. His work helped pave the way for future generations of Black bodybuilders.  I'd love to know how Wright ended up shooting nude alongside the two other bodybuilders.  I'm guessing there's a great story there!