Photography has played various roles in the African American Post-War Civil Rights Movement. Besides its extraordinary coverage of the contemporary Jazz scene and the historical documentation of the segregated South (Kasher, 1996), it had in particular a remarkable political function.
Photography and television have given the Civil Rights fighters a voice which could not be ignored in Post-War America; by showing the struggle in all its unjust cruelty they confronted the national and international community with the shocking reality. People got motivated to express their sympathy for the demonstrators and the number of Movement supporters grew rapidly. Thereby, the most significant stream of followers arose only after the news media had shown images of unexpected outrage, making the relationship obvious (Streitmatter, 2008).
In general, media do not only have a significant impact on public opinion but also contribute greatly to the success of humanitarian organisations. Often their influence even exceeds the possibilities available to politicians. This arises from the news media being the only source of information consumers get about developments further afield, making the success of civil rights movements highly dependent on their image given by press and television (International Council on Human Rights Policy, 2002).
As one of these movements, the struggle for desegregation in America is the most thoroughly documented social conflict to date (Kasher, 1996). The tabloid Life, which can be seen as the national newspaper at the time (Shepherd, 1997), was reaching even more people than the new medium of television. For this reason, the magazine’s understanding of the events, which was expressed by its presentation of images of the iconography of war – uniformed troopers, weaponed assaults, the wounded, state funerals – was spread widely and contributed to the change in public opinion (Kasher, 1996).
Whereas the claim for the media being the cause of a basic change in politics and society often suffers from oversimplification (International Council on Human Rights Policy, 2002), there are many facts indicating it in the case of America’s Post-War desegregation.
This can be explained by three major events, the subsequent news coverage of each, and political shifts in the course of the Civil Rights Movement: the Birmingham campaign in May 1963; the March on Washington in August 1963; and “Bloody Sunday”, the first Selma to Montgomery March in March 1965.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Photography and the African American Post-War Civil Rights Movement
- The Role of Media in Civil Rights Movements
- Three Key Events and Their Media Coverage
- The Birmingham Campaign (May 1963)
- The March on Washington (August 1963)
- “Bloody Sunday” (March 1965)
- The Power of Imagery and Television
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to discuss the significant role photography played in the African American Civil Rights Movement following World War II. It analyzes how visual media, particularly photography and television, influenced public opinion and ultimately contributed to political change.
- The impact of visual media on public perception of the Civil Rights Movement.
- The use of photography as a tool for political activism and social change.
- The effectiveness of media in shaping public opinion and influencing political decisions.
- The role of specific photographic images in galvanizing support for the movement.
- The comparison of the impact of photography and television in disseminating information about the movement.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Photography and the African American Post-War Civil Rights Movement: This introductory section establishes the multifaceted role of photography in the post-war Civil Rights Movement. It highlights photography's documentation of the segregated South and the jazz scene, but primarily focuses on its political function. The author argues that photography and television provided the Civil Rights movement with an undeniable voice, showcasing the injustices and cruelty faced by activists, thus garnering international sympathy and support. The impact of media coverage is emphasized, showing how images of brutality spurred a significant increase in followers for the movement. This section lays the groundwork for examining specific events where visual media played a pivotal role.
The Role of Media in Civil Rights Movements: This section expands on the broader influence of media on social movements, highlighting its impact exceeding that of political action. The author argues that news media became the primary source of information for distant events, making its portrayal of civil rights movements crucial to their success. The text uses the American desegregation struggle as a prime example of a thoroughly documented social conflict, influenced heavily by media coverage—especially that of publications like *Life* magazine, which reached a wide audience and shaped public perception through its presentation of events.
Three Key Events and Their Media Coverage: This section analyzes three pivotal events—the Birmingham campaign, the March on Washington, and “Bloody Sunday”—and their subsequent media coverage. It details how each event, through photographic and televised coverage, fueled international outrage and influenced political change. The Birmingham campaign, with its images of police brutality, is highlighted as a turning point, sparking immediate political consequences and illustrating the power of visual media in shaping public opinion and pressuring the government to act.
The Power of Imagery and Television: This section delves into the powerful impact of imagery, particularly photographs and televised footage, on the Civil Rights Movement. The analysis emphasizes how the spread of visual media, especially television's rapidly expanding reach, brought the realities of the struggle directly into American homes. The section argues that television's immediate and immersive nature—showing real events, rather than staged cinema—created a more intense emotional response, impacting viewers profoundly. The March on Washington is cited as a prime example of television's impact, showing the vastness of the demonstration and highlighting Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic speech.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
African American Civil Rights Movement, photography, television, media influence, public opinion, police brutality, social change, Martin Luther King Jr., Birmingham campaign, March on Washington, “Bloody Sunday,” visual media, political activism.
Frequently Asked Questions: Photography and the African American Post-War Civil Rights Movement
What is the main topic of this text?
This text examines the crucial role of photography and television in the African American Civil Rights Movement after World War II. It analyzes how visual media shaped public perception, influenced political change, and ultimately contributed to the movement's success.
What are the key themes explored in this text?
The key themes include the impact of visual media on public perception of the Civil Rights Movement; the use of photography as a tool for political activism and social change; the effectiveness of media in shaping public opinion and influencing political decisions; the role of specific photographic images in galvanizing support for the movement; and a comparison of the impact of photography and television in disseminating information about the movement.
What events are specifically analyzed in the text?
The text focuses on three pivotal events: the Birmingham Campaign (May 1963), the March on Washington (August 1963), and “Bloody Sunday” (March 1965). The analysis details how media coverage of each event fueled international outrage and influenced political change.
How did photography impact the Civil Rights Movement?
Photography documented the realities of segregation and police brutality, providing undeniable visual evidence of injustice. These images galvanized support for the movement both nationally and internationally, significantly impacting public opinion and pressuring the government to act.
What was the role of television in the Civil Rights Movement?
Television, with its expanding reach, brought the realities of the struggle directly into American homes. Its immediate and immersive nature created a more intense emotional response from viewers than print media, furthering public awareness and support for the movement. The March on Washington is cited as a prime example of television's powerful impact.
What is the argument regarding the influence of media on social movements?
The text argues that media's influence on social movements, particularly in the case of the Civil Rights Movement, surpassed that of political action alone. News media became the primary source of information for distant events, making its portrayal of the movement crucial to its success. Publications like *Life* magazine played a significant role in shaping public perception.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries highlight the multifaceted role of photography in documenting the segregated South and the political function of visual media in the Civil Rights Movement. They emphasize the power of imagery and television in shaping public opinion, fueling international outrage, and ultimately contributing to political change. The text demonstrates how the combination of photographic and televised coverage significantly amplified the movement's impact.
What keywords are associated with this text?
Key words include: African American Civil Rights Movement, photography, television, media influence, public opinion, police brutality, social change, Martin Luther King Jr., Birmingham campaign, March on Washington, “Bloody Sunday,” visual media, political activism.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Doerfel (Author), 2010, A Discussion about the Role of Photography in the African American Post-War Civil Rights Movement, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/210162
