Here’s the striking historical mug shot of Goldie Williams (also known as Meg Murphy) from Omaha, Nebraska in 1898—an image that exudes bold defiance and undeniable personality, still resonating today.
Who Was Goldie Williams?
Goldie Williams was a real person arrested on January 29, 1898, in Omaha on charges of vagrancy—a broadly defined offense that authorities frequently used to arrest women and people of color. Williams listed her occupation as prostitute, and her residence as Chicago
Iconic Mug Shot
- In her now-famous mug shot, Williams stands defiantly with arms crossed, scrunching her nose and pursing her lips—a rebellious posture that clearly defied expectations of the era
- She was just five feet tall, weighing 110 pounds, and had visible injuries—a broken index finger and a cut below her right wrist
- Her appearance is notable—wearing a decorative hat with satin ribbons and feathers, along with large hoop earrings
The Broader Context
- Vagrancy laws at the time were notoriously vague, used to target marginalized individuals with little regard for actual criminal activity. As historian Christy Hyman notes, these laws granted police sweeping power, making it possible to arrest virtually anyone for simply existing in a certain way
- A Supreme Court justice later likened vagrancy laws to allowing arrests “only at the whim of any police officer”
Cultural Resurgence
- The image of Goldie Williams gained renewed attention when featured in season three of “Master of None”. The character Alicia, an interior designer, proudly displays the photo in her home and refers to Goldie as a “bad bitch,” capturing both admiration and aesthetic appeal
- Actress Naomi Ackie, who portrays Alicia, mentioned she had owned the photo for years and described its inclusion in the show as a deliberate celebration of Goldie’s spirit
