The Black Lives Matter movement is arguably one of the most significant political and social movements in US history. The photographers in this video sit down to share their thoughts on why photographing the BLM movement is important to them, personally, as well as for posterity.
Coming from minority communities, each of these photographers are acutely aware of the importance of listening to what is being said before bringing the camera up to their respective eye. They're not passive observers taking strictly photojournalist images, they're a part of the protests. It's deeply personal to them, and that comes across in their images.
I found Tahiti Abdul's perspective of people's need/want of anonymity particularly creative and considerate. By carefully choosing to use black and white for photographing protests, not only can she create impactful images, but as she states in the video, she can also selectively use contrast to help hide any possible identifying features of her subjects. Her use of color for portraits then adds a softer layer to her body of work. In a way, it helps to contextualize the protest photos while also creating an overall cohesive and intimate story.
Links to the other photographers' Instagram profiles:
Have you been photographing the protests or any other aspect of the BLM movement? Let us know in the comments.
I'm just here for the comments.
That's racist.
😂😂😂
Nice video and writeup. These photographers work is so important to capture the continuing struggle for Americans of color from ongoing American police brutality. Today’s marches remind of photos of the Selma to Montgomery marches where policemen beat peaceful protesters and used German Shepherds to intimidate and injure other Americans. The photos capture an instant in time, but I hope that Americans will grow up and respect one another, and that the police will be held accountable for their violence, and ultimately become a force for good, instead of hate, as it has in some communities. Today’s photos mark the strivings for a better society.
The Police is not a force of hate. You exaggerate.
Martin Luther King Jr. would turn over in his grave to see what the Black Live Matter Movement has done in America. Disgusting.
Please explain?
So many people speaking for Dr King. People who I'm sure would have said the same of him then as they say of BLM now...
"Black college students who engaged in peaceful sit-ins at lunch counters that denied them service because of the color of their skin were criticized for behavior that, however passive, appeared provocative to defenders of the status quo. What movement activists proudly characterized as “putting your body on the line” in promotion of racial justice and radical democracy was, in certain quarters, demonized as the unpatriotic behavior of communist-inspired subversives."
"Conservative efforts to taint civil rights demonstrations as violent, subversive or uncivil proved to be an effective line of attack that, over time, strongly influenced white moderates and liberals."
- The Washington Post on the civil rights movement.
Why is the organization of Black Lives Matter so focused on telling stories about themselves that seemingly exploits their race with social injustice? If they want to talk about exploitation and social injustice they should explain why they left out the Japanese, Chinese, Italians or Jews to name a few. Why is Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington (who are black) so disgusted with Black Lives Matter? That's because the organization of Black Lives Matter follow one another like sheep and spend no time doing research of the truth. They are thugs who want free hand-outs and are too lazy to work hard for a living like the rest of America, so they hate America instead. This organization doesn't understand that respect is earned, not given. They don't understand that inequality will always exist simply because of inequalities in talent, effort, good or bad life decisions and even the decisions of local governments. The reasons for inequality are probably as numerous as the people themselves. These people need to grow-up and stop being so offended with everything.
LMAO! You should get a job at FOX, they'd fully support your 'viewpoint' and 'alternative facts'. I'm not going to directly respond to any of your claims because either you're a troll, or just completely lost in the world. Either way, have an awesome day! :)
I applied but they refused me because I worked for CNN (Comedy News Network).
People said literally the same thing in the 1960s about those protests that they're saying about today's protests ("I agree with the movement but not the violence.")
You know what would be even better than MLK rolling over in his grave? Being here to comment on the situation himself, but unfortunately MLK was shot by a white dude. It's telling that's who you'd like people to use as a role model.
No I'm not. Please be quiet.
"When we ask Negroes to abide by the law, let us also demand that the white man abide by law in the ghettos. Day-in and day-out he violates welfare laws to deprive the poor of their meager allotments; he flagrantly violates building codes and regulations; his police make a mockery of law; and he violates laws on equal employment and education and the provisions for civic services. The slums are the handiwork of a vicious system of the white society; Negroes live in them but do not make them any more than a prisoner makes a prison. Let us say boldly that if the violations of law by the white man in the slums over the years were calculated and compared with the law-breaking of a few days of riots, the hardened criminal would be the white man. These are often difficult things to say but I have come to see more and more that it is necessary to utter the truth in order to deal with the great problems that we face in our society."
-Me
Remember. If you make your bed you get to sleep in it. So stop blaming someone else for all your inabilities.
Explain
(BTW: I changed my profile to help those like you who may have difficultly separating fact from fiction)
Intentionally or not, the group has become irrevocably identified with rioting, vandalism and looting of innocent businesses. King would explain to them how totally counterproductive this is.
His views on rioting were more nuanced that that. You can find a number of speeches where he does condemn rioting, but follows it up with statements such as
"I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention."
Look, stop putting words in my mouth. That not what I would say. Here's what I actually said:
"I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay."
-Me
To use Martin Luther King Jr. picture and his name the way you did is disrespectful. Now I know how/why they came up with the term "Fake News" and we have you to thank for it.
Using his name to peddle your modern political views without any support from his own words is the disrespectful action, sir. I see you were not observant enough to see that satire. I hope I have enlightened you to your own derision.
I also have a sinking suspicion that you're not actually a cold tabby with a nicotine addiction, so who is being disingenuous?
More than likely this is a white guy.
I thought I made this pretty clear. This one's pretty famous:
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
-Me
It seems you are ambiguous or just confused. Either way, you failed again.
Such a lazy response: meek and tepid, with an un-earned air of superiority. I find this quote from me to be very relevant to how you present yourself here:
"Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think."
-Me
You think that was a lazy response? Okay... why is the organization of Black Lives Matter so focused on telling stories about themselves that seemingly exploits their race with social injustice? If they want to talk about exploitation and social injustice they should explain why they left out the Japanese, Chinese, Italians or Jews to name a few. In fact, why is Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington (who are black) so disgusted with Black Lives Matter? That's because they are thugs who want free hand-outs and are too "lazy" to work hard for a living like the rest of America, so they hate America instead. This organization doesn't understand that respect is earned, not given. They don't understand that inequality will always exist simply because of inequalities in talent, effort, good or bad life decisions and even the decisions of local governments. The reasons for inequality are probably as numerous as the people themselves. These people need to grow-up and stop being so offended with everything. I could write a book on the subject, but you still wouldn't understand because all you see is poor me me me. Yea, like get a life.
You copied this from a previous response. Proof of your laziness indeed!
Yes, the truth can certainly seem repetitive since it doesn't change.
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
-Me (in regards to you!)
What is stupidity is when BLM does the same thing over and over expecting different results. That takes the cake.
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
- Me
Bro chillax. Dad said you got an algebra test tomorrow and need to get off the computer. Plus he heard you screaming the n word on COD last night. Super pissed.
And why are you trying to dm my gf on tiktok? She's def gonna keep ghosting you.
Copy Cat...
Dude don't be racist
Ha Ha Ha. Your logic is stunning. That word had been so over used that it's becoming meaningless.
Yeah dude, meaningless to nazi racists. Copy cat?! You're sick dude. Way to knock down your own kind.
You're so screwed when I get home tonight: I'm telling mom and dad. They're gonna take your phone so you can't post Pepe memes on 4chan anymore.
Edit: Yo bro WTF? You edited your post to remove "nazi racist." Trying to make me look bad, eh? I knew you were a cat, but didn't realize how much of a pussy you are!
:-)
That one girl.. "I'm a protestor first.. then a photographer. OH.. and I don't want to show their faces because they might be doing something illegal, like burning down a building and I don't want the police to use my photos to identify them. "
Protests are a part of a free society. It is unfortunate that these groups can't contain the lawbreakers. As already posted, it's guilt by association. As it is unfair to lump the peaceful protesters with the thugs, it is equally unfair to lump the dirty cops with the good police officers. Cuts both ways.
So....to document this whole thing properly, all parts of what's going on should be documented; the good AND the bad.
BLM is a Marxist group. Peaceful protest is great and many times warranted. But violence , looting, destruction of property and the killing of people is not right.
This is important work. I'm pleased to see these photographers doing what every generation must in a time of crisis...capturing the moments. Some of the comments sadden me concerning Black Lives Matter. I have attended and documented several rallies here in Utah and they always start the same. Black Lives Matter leadership addresses the crowd asking for a peaceful demonstration and to respect the law. They tell everyone if you are here for trouble please leave because it hurts the cause. And they ask the crowd to photograph and identify anyone looking or causing trouble and to get it to law enforcement! I don't know what else they can do. But for those voices speaking out against the Black Lives Matter I suspect it really doesn't matter. This country was born in the fires of white supremacy and they won't tolerate that supremacy questioned. They won't raise their voices when injustice is perpetrated time and time again against minorities for all to see, nothing but a deep silence and that silence is only broken to support the police or para-military forces. There is no empathy, no trying to see what it is like to be in our shoes because they DON"T want to be in our shoes. Even if I'm poor at least I'm not black. That is called privilege. That is called benefiting from and supporting a system of oppression that works for you. It truly doesn't matter whether we (minorities) peacefully protest, silently kneel or attempt to vote, history shows time and again we are always met with the iron fist. I served the military and retired after 20 years, mostly overseas and I now live in back in my own country where my allegiance, indeed my humanity are questioned because of the pigmentation of my skin and that I peacefully exercise my constitutional rights, a constitution that I pledged to uphold even for those speaking out against Black Lives Matter. Ironic is it not? Black Lives Matter is the least of your problems. It is the hypocrisy of this system of white supremacy perpetrated from the founding of this country I love that is killing us all.
Mark, thanks for posting that perspective on BLM. I think what they need to do now is be more public about opposing rioting and destruction. They're losing their credibility because of association with lawbreakers.
Jim funny you should mention that! https://youtu.be/llci8MVh8J4
Important to them, yes! Important to me, no!
So powerful! I have also been documenting the black lives matter protests in the Bay Area and also Washington DC. @iamkamalx
I'd like to be able to go just to document all the criminal activity.