Freedom Riders
Thursday, February 27, 2014
"The Way You Make Me Feel.."
In Steve Schapiro's photo, "The Summer of 1964 Freedom Bus," a sense of community is portrayed by the group of men and women holding hands in front of a bus. At this time period segregation was still prominent and the majority of citizens did not want to have any social interaction with African Americans, so what the freedom riders were doing was making a statement - A statement that screamed unity amongst people from different races and genders that were willing to take a bold stand against segregation. It makes the audience feel a sense of harmony and togetherness. In the photo it also looks as if the freedom riders are singing or chanting something. They're not just standing their quietly, they're making their voices be heard. The audience could feel a sense of pride and admiration by looking at these individuals risk their lives for a cause they are passionate about.
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Keeping what you just wrote in mind (the almost complete lack of positive interaction between the races), the photo definitely put forward the definite possibility that people could interact with others in a positive way. People back then could have saw this photo and be like “it could happen.” Also I do agree with your last sentence; I also feel people back then would have also been like “wow they are courageous.” - Jon
ReplyDeleteI am imagining an average person from any time prior to the 1960's looking at this photo, thinking "that could never happen." The physical aspects (singing and joining of hands) really makes a bold statement, as you said, to take a stand against segregation. The passion really shines through to the viewer, making it a really powerful piece of rhetoric. -Kristen
ReplyDeleteVery powerful piece of rhetoric. The singing/chanting, holding hands, and just the overall ambiance of this photograph shouts a statement saying "something NEEDS to change." I also find it interesting that even though they are all integrated in one powerful movement, there is still a separation between the protestors. There are three white protestors in a row and assuming the rest are African Americans.
ReplyDelete- Gerald De Leon
You did a great job describing the photo, without seeing it first i was able to feel the emotion and strength and unity that the photo portrays. Once looking at it I saw that the photo is just as strong as your description. I think people looked at that photo back then and most of them shrugged it off thinking "yeah right" not knowing how powerful a statement it was making, and still makes on our community today.
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