Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) was the first black artist to acquire an international reputation in this century. He remains well known today in museum and academic circles, although  his name is not familiar to a more general audience.

 

One of his most popular paintings is titled The Thankful Poor. It is a painting which features an elderly father and his little son as they are seated at a table to eat a meal. There is no fancy turkey with dressing. There is no cranberry sauce. There are no sweet potatoes. There is no pumpkin pie. Instead there is only one tiny dish of food for them to share.

 

But yet, in spite of their limited resources, their heads are bowed in prayer to give thanks to God for what little they have. Although they are poor, they are thankful to God.

 

On the other han…