Race and Photography

The ways that photography was used in American history to challenge the racial traditions of the time

By Thomas Takele

December 7, 2021

Importance of photography

My primary focus is humanity. The raw and compelling photographs I create during the protest unveil the souls of my people.

- Dee Dwyer

Civil War

This was one of the first times where a war was captured in photos.

There were union photographers who were able to capture disturbing images of dead soldiers

When debuted in New York these images shocked the nation because of the brutality of the war.

**Alexander Gardner / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain**

Civil Rights Movement

***Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com***

During segregation, photos were used the same in a similar fashion as in the Civil War, to bring awareness to the issues that aren't known.

These photos were easterly accessible because they were easily mass distributed on newspapers and played on televisions during news broadcasts.

**Marvin Sussman/Newsday RM via Getty Images**

Advances in photography allowed cameras to be more available to people and this allowed powerful photos to be taken in key moments of the movement.

Post Civil Rights Movement

The advances of technology allowed for every person to actively participate in the struggle against racial injustice

**Photograph by David Dee Delgado / Getty**

Phones allowed the average person to snap a picture at a moments notice and social media allowed for the spread of these photos to occur more easily

Instead of waiting for the printing and delivery of newspapers these pictures are received virtually and are as easily accessed as a few taps

Performative Activism through photography

This advance in technology also caused a change in mindsets around protest and the use of photos within them

Performative activism is

activism done to increase one's social capital rather than because of one's devotion to a cause

Social Media

Its easy access and power to turn anyone into a photographer causes it to be a powerful tool for and against the progression of movements

Social Media Posts can be Damaging

Black screen posts like the #blackouttuesday trend block useful information from spreading when they use hashtags like #BLM

Live Look in Richmond Area

June 6th, 2020

Protestors gather around the Robert E Lee statue to fight for its removal. Lee was a slave owner and the overall commander of the Confederate States Army

June 7th, 2020

After the murder of George Floyd protestors took to the streets of Richmond to show that until there is justice there will be no peace

June 11th, 2020

This picture captured the toppling of the Jefferson Davis statue in Richmond. Davis was a slave owner and the president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War

September 8th, 2021

A pivotal moment in Richmond history. During the removal process of the Robert E Lee Statue, there were protestors celebrating the removal and pictures of the removal circulating around the internet.