Examining Photography's Role in the US Civil Rights Movement Era

This essay examines the significant role of photography in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, highlighting how images captured key moments and contributed to the struggle for equality and justice. It discusses how photographs documented both peaceful demonstrations and violent clashes, shaping public perception and raising awareness about the injustices faced by African Americans. The essay references specific photographs that illustrate the resistance encountered by activists and the brutality used by law enforcement. It also touches on the persistence of racism and discrimination despite the progress made during the Civil Rights era, as evidenced by contemporary photographs of incidents involving police brutality. The essay concludes that photography remains a powerful tool for understanding and remembering the Civil Rights Movement, while also underscoring the ongoing need for social change.

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Part 1
How is photography in this instance connected to the civil movement of the past 60 years?
Introduction
PBS (n.d ) highlights that the civil movement entailed a mass movement to obtain equal
access to privileges, rights, and opportunities of American citizenship by the African Americans.
The movement gained momentum in the 1950s and 1960s, where African American organized
movements at local and national levels. They pursued their objectives via the petitions,
negotiations as well as peaceful demonstrations. The movement influenced the current student
movement and females’ rights movement of the 1960s. Therefore, the movement addressed 3
key areas including the voting rights, social segregation, and education. However, there still
exists social segregation in society despite the civil rights efforts to end it.
Speltz, (2016) argue that photography played a critical role in enhancing the struggle for
equality and justice. Currently, most people in America gain insight on the Civil Rights
Movements via photographs, including those documenting dramatic clashes between police and
speeches by non-violence demonstrators and charismatic leaders. For instance, Speltz, (2016)
exposes a photograph of law enforcers Johnson J.V. and Strickland O.M. in 1958 using excessive
force while arresting Marting Luther King for walking around the courtroom during the standing
of one his assistant. The police officers chocked and beat him in addition to denying him the
charges. The photographs portray the extent of resistance by the law enforcers and the cruelty
used on the nonviolent protesters and activist fighting or equality and an end to racism.
Speltz, (2016) portray another photo showing the state trooper beating the Student
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee chairman, John Lewis in 1965 in Alabam in 1965 during a
march for civil rights voting. More so, Anthony Quin aged 5 years was arrested by the patrolmen

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in Mississippi in 1965 during a protest to fight for their rights to vote. During that time, the
African Americans were denied their rights to vote and they fought for the right to vote despite
the resistance from the White government.Speltz, (2016) claims that a photo from Charles Moore
and Bill Hudson news in 1963 in Birmingham reveals a police officer exposing high-pressure
fire hoses and police dogs on a peaceful African American protestor. The photo demonstrated the
powerful resistance to change among the White community who had to use force to resist the
changes advocated by the Africa American population as well as the intensity of the struggle
experienced by the non-violent demonstrators as they fought for their rights, equality and
opportunities enjoyed the White American citizens.
According to Speltz, (2016), other photographs taken after the civil rights movement
include the photo of a protestor arrested as she protested the death of Alton Sterling after a
shooting in Louisiana in 2016. In 2014, the heavily equipped and armed law enforcers arrested
and detained a male as he demonstrated the shooting and death of Micheal Brown by the law
enforcer in Ferguson. In another photo in 2014, Eric Garner, who was asthmatic died while the
police officers used force while arresting him in Staten Island. In 1991, the police officers are
shown beating an African American motorist, Rodney King while lying on the floor. Speltz,
(2016), state that the picture indicates that despite the efforts made by the civil rights movements
in the 1960s, there still exists racisms, inequality, and discrimination among the African
American community in the US. The law enforcers still use force, violence and discriminate the
minority as they did during the civil movement in the 1960s.
In conclusion, the civil rights movement addressed 3 key areas including voting rights,
social segregation, and education. However, there still exists social segregation in society despite
the civil rights efforts to end it. Photography played a critical role in enhancing the struggle for

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equality and justice. Currently, most people in America gain insight on the Civil Rights
Movements via photographs, including those documenting dramatic clashes between police and
speeches by non-violence demonstrators and charismatic leaders. The picture indicates that
despite the efforts made by the civil rights movements in the 1960s, there still exists racisms,
inequality, and discrimination among the African American community in the US. The law
enforcers still use force, violence and discriminate the minority as they did during the civil
movement in the 1960s.

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References
PBS. (n.d ). Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved from
https://www.pbs.org/johngardner/chapters/4b.html
Speltz, M. (2016). How Photographs Define the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter Movements.
Retrieved from Times: http://time.com/4429096/black-lives-matter-civil-rights-
photography/

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Part 2
Aftern reading the article, I tend to agree that photography play a vital role in
demonstrating the struggle for equality and justice among the African American population in
1960s. It is true that most American citizens understand Civil Rights Movements by viewing
photographs such as those potrayed in the article by Speltz, (2016). The The photographs
indicate the degree of resistance by the police and the use of force on the peaceful protesters
trying to gain equal rights and end racism. Speltz, (2016) observe that the law enforcers still
utlize brutality and force when handling the African Americans and indication of continued
social segregation.
Pros of using photographs to describe the civil rights (Speltz, 2016)
a) The photographs assist the viewers to understand more about the civil rights movement in
1960s
b) They assist the viewers and readers in remembering the heros who fought for equal rights
in America such as Martin Luther King
c) They remain a reminder of the cruelty and use of force used by the law enforcers
d) They assist in ending the acts as well as avoid discrimination among the minority
Cons of using photographs to describe the civil rights
a) Despite using the photographs as a reminder for the srtugles and end to discrimination,
the police still use excessful force when dealng with the minority
b) The pictures may serve as a tool for spreading and revenge among the affected
communities

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Reference
Speltz, M. (2016). How Photographs Define the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter Movements.
Retrieved from Times: http://time.com/4429096/black-lives-matter-civil-rights-
photography/