Little Rock Nine: Photographs During The Civil Rights Movement

Photographs During the Civil Rights Movement
The Little Rock Nine were a big part of starting the Civil Rights movement. The Little Rock Nine was made of 9 children, all of which black, who volunteered to make the first attempt of integrating white schools in America. Integrating white schools was on the top of every black students bucket list at the time; white schools got all new materials while the black aschools got hand-me-downs from the white schools. Photography played a big role in spreading the news about what was going on in Little Rock during the time where Central High School was being integrated. Photography played an important role in illuminating events during the civil rights time movement, but sometimes presented a incomplete
First of all, photographs are widespread. Author, Shelley Tougas said, “The chaos at Little Rock was not just a state news story, or even a national news story. The photograph of Elizabeth Eckford had circled the globe...” (Tougas 18). Photography was so powerful in the mid 1900’s because it was so easy to print on a newspaper or other news source. Another quote was used in The Telegraph which portrayed the same mood that said “The next morning, Elizabeth and Hazel landed on millions of doorsteps.” Secondly, the point of view is neutral. Finally, photographs make it really easy to see the emotions. Photographer Will Counts said, “When I saw Hazel Bryan’s contorted face in the camera’s viewfinder, I knew that I had released the shutter at the right moment…” (6). Will Counts is saying that it is really easy to see the contorted, emotional look in Hazel Bryan’s face and her expression creates a powerful mood. Photography was a very important resource during the civil rights time
First of all, photographs can be staged. In a New York Times article, an interview was held with photographer Stanley Greene. In the interview he said “I think setting up photos — where they are completely staged — is very widespread…” Since this is coming from a well known photographer, it is really worrying that photographs might not actually be telling the truth. Secondly, they can be manipulated. During the same interview Stanley Greene also made another strong remark saying, “Much attention has been rightfully given recently to the digital manipulation of photojournalistic images — the altering of news photographs using software in order to willfully deceive the viewer by adding or subtracting elements of a photo or by toning the image in a way that no longer reflects the reality of the scene as the photographer witnessed it…” This is another worrying statement that is really saying that manipulation of photographs is pretty common because the media wants to deceive the viewers or toning the image so it no longer reflects the actual situation. Finally, the photograph is really “through the eyes of the photographer.” In the book Little Rock Girl 1957 the author says, “He had a wide angle lens to get the shot he wanted: Elizabeth against a backdrop of angry people.” Photographs can seem biased or wrong to some viewers because of this. Although photography was a great