GrodsCorp

Let’s all sit down and have a nice Boston Tea Party

Friday 11 April 2008, 10:15 pm

Bron

Categories: Photography, Society

Tags: America, BarackObama, photography, racism, Slate

Tonight, I’ve been catching up with my reading at the online American magazine, Slate. I was particularly captivated by their slideshow on the anti-busing rallies in Boston in 1976 (long after the Civil Rights Movement began). It was an ugly episode, it goes without saying. The nightmarish photo below earned the photographer, Stanley J. Forman, the 1977 Pulitzer Prize. As you look at it, you can see why the photo, called The Soiling of Old Glory, won the prize - it captured a white youth transforming the American flag into a weapon directed at a black lawyer.

You would think that, in this day and age, the issue of segregration and desegregation was no longer an issue. Wrong. As the slideshow points out:

In 2006, when Deval Patrick became the first black governor of Massachusetts, the Boston Globe expressed hope that his inauguration would “finally wash away the shameful stain of that day in 1976.” Last June, however, a Supreme Court ruling forbade school districts from assigning students based on their race, and Patrick’s administration has been forced to find ways to avoid dismantling desegregation programs throughout Massachusetts. The issue, and the photograph, continue to haunt Boston, and the nation.

Here’s hoping that if Barack Obama wins not only the Presidential nomination but the Presidency itself, America might finally realise that being dark-skinned is not an abomination or evil or whatever silly story it is that white supremacists and other racist ratbags peddle.

As for the other photos in the slideshow, the one that made me look at it for ages was the picture of the woman and child freefalling out a window when their apartment block caught fire. There is a cruel beauty in that particular photo, and I wonder what you think.

22 Comments

THR (Friday 11 April 2008, 10:55 pm) #

Very good post, Bron.

I don’t think that Obama will be anything to write home about. Nonetheless, from the US bloggers I’ve read, it seems he has inspired a lot of formerly non-political people (i.e. black and poor) into becoming active. This is important, for many reasons.

We should also have good reason to pay tribute to the civil rights movement. The Jim Crows laws are pretty similar to thois eenacted by Hitler in 1933-1934. It’s not so long ago that racial superiority theories were mainstream, and not just confined to AWH.

In any case, B, photography is a powerful artform, and especially so in photos such as these.
The Editor (Friday 11 April 2008, 11:09 pm) #

It is an awesome photograph.
Bron (Friday 11 April 2008, 11:10 pm) #

After posting that post, I thought about it and realised that even if Obama doesn’t get as far as the presidential nomination, this opening up and discussion of racial issues is good. People are thinking about it again. I think the last time people all across America really talked about racism and the legacy of slavery etc seriously, and for a lengthy period of time, was after the 1992 LA riots (otherwise known as the Rodney King uprising).

Since then, isolated (for want of a better word; as in relatively less widespread discussion in comparison to, say, the Rodney King uprising) incidents such as the Amadou Diallo “incident”, where an unarmed West Guinean who was shot 19 times by 4 white policemen, although it garnered a fair bit of media coverage, it had nowhere near as much as the coverage from media, political discussions and even worldwide awareness as the Rodney King uprising did. And I can’t think of any other “race” issue from the USA since Rodney King that has garnered such discussion, until Barak Obama’s tilt for the White House.

Anyway, Obama’s kinda cute. How could the ‘mericans not vote for him?!
THR (Friday 11 April 2008, 11:13 pm) #

Obama is important. In terms of policiy, he’s no different to any other neocon scumbag. Nonetheless, he’s inspired people to become political, and that is retty important.
THR (Friday 11 April 2008, 11:16 pm) #

And, can I just say, if other bloggers post classic photos such as this, Grodscorp will become an internationally important blog. Forget ;;;, the civil rights movement and anti-Vietnam movement were world-historical events. These photographs ought to be auctioned for millions.
Zombie Mao (Saturday 12 April 2008, 12:09 am) #

amen THR amen
Damian (Saturday 12 April 2008, 12:15 am) #

Bloody amazing photo. I am, from time to time, a student of the history of race politics in the US, yet I have never seen this before.

I’m with THR on Obama’s significance.
EC (Saturday 12 April 2008, 7:47 am) #

Excellent post Bron. Like Damian I’d never seen this photo before.

Your observation that the picture of the woman and child falling has a “cruel beauty” is perfect.
magic bellybutton (Saturday 12 April 2008, 9:15 am) #

Great post.

I thought the following about the lawyer was interesting:

In a remarkable speech, he said he did not blame those who attacked him. Indeed, he said he identified with them as poor, working-class victims of a system that used race to mask deeper economic divisions in American society.

Sadly, it appears nothing has changed in over 30 years. Race still overrides the underlying issues.

And that photo of the woman and child? Incredibly unnerving but I am in agreement with the “cruel beauty” description.
Mikey (Saturday 12 April 2008, 11:16 am) #

What an arse hat. I’ve met some lovely yanks in my time. Then some of them say some horribly racist crap that spins my head.

Anyway, Ant, I have a request. TheWife and I have been laughing heartily at John Howard’s tour of the conservative world picking up prizes like he’s on Sale or something. First he got the salad bowl, then he went for the money. Later he’ll be going for the lot. TheWife said she was surprised he hadn’t been given some sort of antler crowned moose head from some psycho nut bar righty establishment.

So to that end how about some photoshop glory RE an augmented Antlered moose heads, with perhaps the antler tips crowned by something other than horn … ??
Suburban Marxist (Saturday 12 April 2008, 11:42 am) #

“Obama is important. In terms of policiy, he’s no different to any other neocon scumbag.”

Not sure about that THR. I think there might be some important differences between the Democrats and the Bush neocons in relation to US foreign policy. I think the Democrats are articulating (in a distorted and muted way) the demands of the US population for a troop withdrawal and (more coherently) the demands of sections of the ruling class who can see the neocon strategy in the MidEast has been fairly disastrous.

However, what both neocons and Democrats have in common is the shared assumption that it is the right of the US to dominate and control the politics and resources of the region for the benefit of the US.

Its that assumption, which in reality reflects the strategic needs of US capitalism, that will before long see an Obama or Clinton White House embarking on some other military adventure in the region (not including Hashghanistan).

Oh, and on the the Obama craze,… a friend who lives on the West Coast of the US has told me of conversations he has with young Obamaites where they attempt to enthuse him about the prospect of their messiah bringing ‘change’, but when questioned on what that actually means have very little of substance to say.

Still, I don’t think you can underestimate the symbolic significance of having a Black president of the US…
John Surname (Saturday 12 April 2008, 11:50 am) #

WHAT?

The Happy Revolutionary and Suburban Marxist are meant to AGREE on EVERYTHING.

Karl Marx is spinning in his crypt.

I don’t know what to believe in anymore, I’m going to law school.
Bron (Saturday 12 April 2008, 12:30 pm) #

I didn’t quite agree with THR on his comment about Obama last night, either, but I didn’t feel lucid enough to elaborate. I still don’t. Later, I’ll write something.

However, I do agree with Sub.Marxist that Obama represents a vote for “change” in a symbollic sense, and indeed so does Clinton in many respects. I know of Clinton supporters who want to vote for her based on her being a female. Screw the policies and shit. Vote 1 Woman.
templemonkey (Saturday 12 April 2008, 12:47 pm) #

THR wrote The Jim Crows laws are pretty similar to thois eenacted by Hitler in 1933-1934. It’s not so long ago that racial superiority theories were mainstream, and not just confined to AWH.

It was certainly the age for that kind of insanity. However, the history texts I read (not many on this topic mind you) suggested that the Nazi Party in Germany actually copied ideas such as ‘compulsory sterilisation of social undesirables’ from Californias existing legislation in the early 30s.

Moot point in some ways, considering that your point was that it was prevalent thinking at the time. Interesting though.
daveinexile (Saturday 12 April 2008, 7:35 pm) #

A very familiar photo - to a now-Australian-citizen once-American in relative exile.

I lived in Boston for 19 years - through this kind of stuff - and the worst of it was the attacks by white parents on the school buses going into South Boston High, to integrate the place (the black kids came from Roxbury - where Malcolm X hung out for a while before his prison time).

There’s more to the story, however. The police actually promoted alot of this, and the racist city councilors from South Boston - along with the “Irish Mafia” (seen “Departed”? conveys the sense of it, with Jack Nicholson - a bit extreme - but this crowd was into killing etc. which was not Hollywood - it was real). The “youth” were basically screwed up white working class kids - long haired skin heads. The problem was with the power structure, inside the government and the police. And it was about class. No riots in rich suburbs like Wellesley (where Hillary Clinton went to university).

Go Obama - “keep hope alive” (Jesse Jackson said it first, but the follow up is very welcome - especially when white and black and Latino working class people understand it and have some hope for a change).

Love it or leave it - I left - but with a President Obama, I may go back for a visit.
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 10:55 am) #

You notice the racism inherent in this leftist bilge?

A black man like Wesley Kune doesn’t want Obama, yet Obama can be forced upon him by white, latte-sipping, inner city lefties. Adding insult to injury, the white inner city lefty can also foist big government upon black men like Wesley Kune.

How is he supposed to invest in cane plantations with those kinds of burdens?

Oh, the leftist mindset.
daveinexile (Sunday 13 April 2008, 3:12 pm) #

“Oh, the leftist mindset…”

Angus, you weren’t there - I was - when blacks and whites were on one side protesting against the segregated South Boston beach - and white kids and their adult “parents” on the other calling us all “niggers” - with riot cops in between.

The left supported desegregation - the cops and racist councilors supported white supremacy.

Blogging is one thing - acting another. It’s more than a “mindset”.

Think about it - and maybe get moving? Or did I read your comments wrong.
Ant Rogenous (Sunday 13 April 2008, 6:37 pm) #

Excellent post, Bron.
dulcinea (Monday 14 April 2008, 2:53 am) #

Great post, Bron. Anything would be an improvement over the current administration. I admit I’m skeptical about just how much change Obama can bring. Racism is as strong as ever in many parts of this country (my sister works in the rural South and is astonished by what she sees. Makes the disgusting northeastern rednecks we’re used to look like angels). Unfortunately it will take a lot more than pretty speeches to change any of that. I’m not convinced Obama has what it takes.
Bron (Monday 14 April 2008, 9:21 am) #

Ta Dulcinea. What about Hillary - do you think she has what it takes to make changes (changes in what, you ask. Um… just generally!)?
dulcinea (Monday 14 April 2008, 10:22 am) #

Well, she’s been in politics longer, has the connections, knows how to negotiate and compromise. In other words, she knows the game. In politics, that’s what it takes to bring about change.

That said, having a black president would certainly force Americans to look at our country differently. It’s not likely to change older people who have already made up their mind about such things as race, but hopefully their kids will see a black president (or a woman president) and grow up thinking that’s normal. That’s a kind of progress.

One thing that bothers me: Obama’s refusal to detach himself from openly homophobic suppporters. There’s a hypocrisy in that kind of attitude that I find deeply disturbing. Human rights should not be exclusive. Uplifting one minority doesn’t give one the right to ignore another. Hillary at least seems willing to engage with people from all walks of life. Probably just a case of “anything for a vote.” Who knows. But it might get my vote. The primary in OR is coming up soon.
Bron (Monday 14 April 2008, 12:48 pm) #

Good point about Obama’s refusal to detach himself from homophobic supporters. On the one hand, I guess he, being a politician seeking to become President, can’t really alienate anyone at any stage of the game, but on the other, at what cost to his integrity that everyone keeps talking about?

Then again, integrity? Politicians? Ho ho ho.