Ken Gonzales-Day, St. James Park, 2006From the "Erased Lynching" Series
From this week's reading (Leigh Raiford, "The Consumption of Lynching Images" and Sturken and Cartwright, "Viewers Make Meaning"), concisely address the following questions:
What role did lynching photographs play in the white community? How can lynching be seen as uniquely shaped by modernity (by social/technical/cultural forces unique to the time period, late 19th to early 20th centuries)? What was photography's role in defining the black body in an emergent consumer culture? How has the black community used lynching photographs (appropriated or created oppositional readings)?
PLEASE NOTE: The last two pages of the Raiford essay (pgs. 272 and 273) are posted on the course D2L site (click here to access).
Lynching photographs served to reinforce the power and identity of whiteness in America during the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. These pictures accomplished this far beyond the areas where the lynching actually occured – the originals were even reproduced as postcards and mailed across the country. Photography, as a technology, enabled the lynching of African-Americans to reverse the idea of Emancipation not only in the South, but all across the country - and in a way not possible before. As lynching photographs were kept as trophies and sold as a commodity, this also had the effect of defining consumerism as a distinctly white endeavor and that blacks would still be the product being consumed, not participants in the new society. The black community has used these photographs to reclaim the people – not as subjects, but as victims of horrible crimes. Other artists have appropriated the physical lynching “shapes” to suggest more social reform is needed. A good example is Vivian Cherry’s “Game of Lynching” The body language of the boy denotes lynching against the back drop of a familiar urban scene – possibly questioning the economic treatment of blacks in 1947 as still unfair.
ReplyDeleteLynching Photographs from the late 19th to early 20th centuries essentially dehumanized African Americans as well as the African American Culture. Its gives the impression that white society did not see African Americans as people there for they thought what they were doing was not wrong as you can see in many of the pictures. As photo technology progressed and these pictures were circulated (some through the use of postcards) perceived white power over African Americans became common place not just in the south but nation wide. Collecting photos then in a way became a hobby among some people here in the United States almost like collecting baseball cards. African Americans have used these photographs to shed light on this subject and to show what horrible things had been done to their grand parents and great grand parents during this dark period in American history. The black community has also used created “lynching” photographs to show social inequalities in more modern times.
ReplyDeleteLynching photographs in the white community were used as a reaffirmation of white power over African Americans. Widespread disbursement of these photographs helped to extend this feeling of a communal white power rather than one strictly associated with the South or a specific community. In the time that lynching became so prominent technology certainly lent itself to the phenomenon, the emergence of a widespread rail system and the automobile helped shuttle mob members to and from these horrific events. Also, the advent of the camera and portable darkroom made for easy access and quick consumption of these photographs. These photographs also allowed whites to regain a sense of ownership lost with the abolishment of slavery turning the black body back into a commodity. However, African American authors of the time began to redistribute these images as those not of a spectacle of entertainment for whites, but as a document of the horror and bigotry to be seen and recognized by all communities.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the images of lynching now are shocking and disturbing to most people of any race today, they were used in the past as a symbol of the inferiority and the dehumanization of African Americans. Most today could see the parallels of the lynchings as a symbol almost like of the crucifixion of Jesus. Although the image of the Christ is disturbing and very emotional for those who practice Christianity, it also reminds us of the sacrifice that was made for us. So in that light it is viewed as more positive than negative. The black community is in way these lynching photos as a way of remembering and honoring those who were put though so much. These atrocities could hardly be viewed as a good thing, but one may ask; if these crimes hadn’t occurred would things ever been extinguished? The photographs of the lynchings were used as source of pride for the white community and were distributed in a lot of forms. The photographs were published in newspapers and even on post cards, so these images could be “appreciated” by other white communities who didn’t participate in lynchings. I would also compare these images to the images that surfaced from the Holocaust. There are thousands of images of torture and degraded humans that emerged from the Holocaust. You wouldn’t assume that pictures would be necessary unless the public would want to acknowledge this and remember it.
ReplyDeleteThe only time you would see a photograph of a lynching today would be in a history book. It doesn’t happen that often anymore and many people would see the image and be repulsed by it. Lynching photographs were used as a threat to many blacks and the lynching itself was a reinforcement and a kind of entertainment for whites in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. African Americans were seen as animals and were treated as such by many whites. Whites believed that African Americans did not deserve the same respect and lynching was a way to dehumanize them and embarrass them. A lot of people would show up for the lynching and cheer the whole process on. People would collect these photographs as a type of trophy for their “great accomplishments.” African Americans use these images to show the cruelty and inequality they have faced in the past. These photographs are a symbol of their suffering and everything they have been through to get to where they are today
ReplyDeleteWhen the word lynching appears, it is most likely associated with the history of slavery or the mistreatment of African Americans. In the late 19th and early 20th century lynching was in its prime. The images reached the white community en masse from the photographs that were taken by a few and reproduced. The photos were circulated as postcards in the white community to give them a sense of reassurance of their own beliefs of being at the top of the hierarchy of society. With the circulation of the photographs, it reinforced the image of African-Americans nation-wide that they were inferior to the white community. Along with the demand of the raw images of the lynchings, the photographers had created portable darkrooms to keep up with the demand. The technological advances at that time, allowed the “events” to be advertised through telegrams, telephone, and etc. Not only were the photographs of the lynchings were a hot commodity. The clothing, the teeth, basically anything that was a part of the body was going for a price. The “people” wanted a piece of the action for a memorabilia. The images were used in the African-American community for anti-lynching campaigns and to show the cruelty in its nature. Lynchings along with other cruelties are always a constant reminder that race was problem then, and that it will always be in one form or another.
ReplyDeleteduring the late 19th century and early 20th century the white community used lynching to reinforce their power over the African American community. during this period the circulation of lynching photographs throughout the white community served to unite the whites in the belief that they were superior to the blacks. the pictures also were used to keep the other blacks in line for fear of a similar fate happening to them. during the civil rights movement the African American community used photos of lynching to show the hardship they had endured even after they were granted their freedom. these photos showed the cruelty of the whites and in some cases made them feel ashamed of the persecution of blacks by their ancestors.
ReplyDeleteI think that maybe the lynching photographs at that time played a role of camaraderie amongst them and a part of life that had become normal like taking photographs at the grocery store.It demonstrated a part of there culture at the time. It was part of there identity as a culture, and the white power movement . The role that photographs played in defining the black body in a emergent consumer culture would depend on the viewers it may cause sympathy, anger for those who weren't part of the white community. And for those who were part of the community it might have been a source of pride. The photos in the black community has severed as looking into the past what they've overcome.
ReplyDeleteFrom Sturken and Cartwright(pg#49) it says "images generate meanings" The role the lynching photographs played in the white community, i feel were to used as a constant reminder to the blacks and for any one else, who might have had a problem with what they were doing. I would say a big slap in the face, to let any one know if you are against us, these pictures should remind you, of were we stand for.
ReplyDeleteThe black community has used to the photograhs to show the world the injustices ,that happen not so long ago. The culture of people in the early 19th and 20th century, as i have read and seen through a lot of pictures and movies, was of pure ignorance, and domination of a race of people through hate crimes, and the loss of freedoms. The pictures help us remember what happen, and also helps us not to let history,
repeat it self.
What role did lynching photographs play in the white community? Lynching photography became a sport at the turn of the century. post cards became more like trading cards. This was a real issue it numbed their seances just like TV and Movies do today.
ReplyDeleteHow can lynching be seen as uniquely shaped by modernity (by social/technical/cultural forces unique to the time period, late 19th to early 20th centuries)?
Social-African Americans farmers in that time frame were gaining land and cattle, and if they were lynched the land and cattle would be available on the market.
Cultural forces- there were many who assumed the worse in African Americans. intern they were often mis-accused for rape and cattle thieving especially in the rural areas where the law was distant. I would like to note that according to the Tuskegee Institute reported that between 1880 and 1951 there were 3,437 lynchings of African Americans reported, and 1,293 whites. Point being it was used as a form of capital punishment as well as a form of terrorism towards African Americans
Technical- Bringing back lynching and incorporating it into a form of hate instead of a form of punishment. Which introduced the Photography of lynching at which became a sport, people flocked to see the lynchings. People sent postcards all over the Untied States until stopped by the postal service.
What was photography's role in defining the black body in an emergent consumer culture? The photography fueled the thought that African americans were dangers, evil, and could not be trusted. The rave of postcards reached all who could receive mail created more problems for the African Americans.
How has the black community used lynching photographs
(appropriated or created oppositional readings)? They have used photographs to help others become aware of where and what their ancestors have come and been through. They have used them to create art expressing the realism behind racism.
It is quite obvious that lynching, although dehumanizing to the African American peoples, was quite empowering for whites during the late 1800s through the early 1900s. The fact that image was marketed and distributed all over the United States illustrates that. Whites wanted to reinforce a sense of unity among themselves and felt the need to do so by creating this notion of superiority over African Americans. They would sell pictures/images of the lynching and also other items used during the process such as chain links, teeth, etc. Photography was the primary driving force for this ideal, people from the North for example, even if they hadn't come into contact with an African American could still be a part of this cultural practice.
ReplyDeleteMoving forward in time, African American artists are using the very same images that once dehumanized an entire race as framework for provoking thought and understanding about the history of our nation and the idea of trying to overcome such brutality. It is interesting how African American artists are taking the photos of lynching to provoke an anti-lynching discourse.
Lynching photographs served as confirmation of white superiority in early American history. Images now repulsive to the general public were entertaining and laughable in the 19th and 20th centuries. These murderous images were distributed like any ordinary newspaper or magazine, and at high demand. Families sent photos of lynch mobs as greeting cards to their friends and relatives across country, mocking the very notion of black equality and praising themselves for being inherently more intelligent, capable, and ultimately…human. Sturken and Cartwright explain that, “The meaning of images emerges through these processes of interpretation, engagement, and negotiation. Importantly, this means that culture is not a set of objects that are valued in some way but a set of processes through which meaning is constantly made and remade through the interactions of objects and peoples.” (pg88) This passage caught my attention because it points out that photos alone can not produce such sadistic entertainment or feelings of supremacy and hatred. People of that time period, people like today, enjoyed interpreting these images as justification for murder and slavery. The engagement of these photos dehumanized the African American race. They made blacks out to be animals that need be punished for their inferiority. Today these images mean completely different things and are used in completely different ways. African Americans today are using lynching images as comparisons to modern culture and how they mirror current racial acts of violence.
ReplyDelete