Photographic History of American Civil Rights
Close to 200 unforgettable photographic images from 50 photographers, reflect the cause, struggle and changes the nation faced during the civil rights movement the tumultuous 12-year period of the 1950s and 1960s at the Smithsonian International Gallery through March 9, 2009.
The collection chronicles from the historic event of Rosa Parks being arrested for not giving up her bus seat, to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination in 1968.
The Road to Freedom – Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement – 1954-1968, offers historic mages that capture the non-violent civil rights movement movement through non-violent awareness raising, the events surrounding the 1961 Freedom Riders who protested racial segregation on public transportation, the fire hosing of blacks in Birmingham, Alabama, the famous Bloody Sunday during the Selma-Montgomery March of 1965 and other crucial events as they were captured on film are on display.
A few of the most moving, historical and my personal favorites included:
- Rosa Parks calmly getting booked at the police station after being arrested.
- A burned out public bus after a riot.
- A bloody protestor who was beaten by police.
- Several photos of Bloody Sunday.
- A series of photos of Black students being the first to enter integrated schools, as protestors taunt them and the National Guard protects them.
This is magnificent collection of historical photographs during one of America’s most violent and disturbing time.
Road to Freedom – Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement – 1954-1968
The Smithsonian International Gallery
1100 Jefferson Drive, SW
Washington, D.C. 20560 (map it)
Dates and Times – Daily through March 9, 2009 – 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Admission – FREE
Nearest Metro Subway Station – Smithsonian – Blue and Orange line, then a 1-block walk or use the DC Circulator.
Parking – Metered street parking is available in the area.
Images – Bloody Sunday, March on Washington – both public domain _________________________________________________
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[...] race relations were the subject of other posts beside Brauer’s this December. Check out DC Traveler for a review of an exhibition of civil rights-movement photography at the the Smithsonian [...]