Week 2 Discussion Questions/ Julian Keys

Discussion questions for Willis

1. African American photographers in the late 19th century, had a similar style to Keita and Sidibe. Photos of African Americans in the late 19th century featured middle-class people, who were wearing stylish and expensive clothing. Keita and Sidibe also photographed middle-class Africans, who wore stylish clothing, and had a significant role in their society. Michelle Lamuniere states, "But photographic portraits were also symbols of wealth and social importance, achieving iconic status, especially during Keita's time" (13). In the 19th century photos, African Americans were dolled up as much as the Africans were in Keita's photos. The style of clothing demonstrates "wealth", and shows the status of the people in the photos.
2. Keita and Sidibe were on a mission to get over the European gaze, and photographers in the late 19th century were trying to avoid stereotypes as well. Africans were stereotyped as wild savages, in which they were always depicted on National Geographic photos and videos. Western beliefs fed to this stereotype of the "savages" of Africa. Keita and Sidibe produced photos to defy these stereotypes. Both photographers, "collaborated with their subjects to produce images that had significance within their own society" (13). In the late 19th century, the "New Negro" movement was a new beginning for African Americans. This was a time of discovery for African Americans to gain new opportunities, and to prove that they are equal to the majority of the nation. Willis includes how most photos that were produced by the superior culture were usually, "demoralizing and racist". Willis includes a quote by Pieterse, who observes, "In most product advertising, blacks are shown as producers (workers, cooks) or servants, or as decorative elements, but not as consumers of the product" (38). This quote relates to how Keita and Sidibe wanted people to take from their photos to see that Africans and African Americans are just as "human" as the dominant culture.
3. Willis's use of bell hooks' comment fit perfectly in the section after she talks about stereotypes in photos of black people. What hooks was saying, is that white people already had a image in their head of the average black person based on the past and the images that white media depicted them as. Black people were usually captured as servants and workers, instead of being captured as someone with a higher status in society. The New Negro movement was a time that photographers took the chance to photograph African Americans, who defied the stereotypes. Photographers captured photos of African Americans, who were of the middle-class, and those who were leaders in their society. This quote still exists today with the way media portrays African Americans with the photos and videos they choose to show the public. The media does not always choose your "best" photo when they decide to release an image to allow the public to judge you. For example, after Michael Brown was killed the media always showed photos of him holding up "alleged gang signs", and the middle finger. So the dominant culture immediately judged him as a "thug", "banger", and a "crininal". What the media did not show as often was the picture of him in his cap and gown after graduation, and that he was getting ready for college. African Americans still struggle with stereotypes because of videos and photos today.
4. When I look at these photos, I immediately think of the "Transformed Black", and "Role Model". The New Negro movement and the Harlem Renaissance relate to both of these genres in terms of photography. The "Transformed Black" genre, is the evolution and advancement of Black people in America. The New Negro movement itself represents the "Transformed Black", and so photos during this time period show Blacks with power, education, and wealth. These photos were intended to increase "Black pride", and also to defy stereotypes. For years the majority judged Black people as ignorant beings, and that they were only good for hard labor. Original images mainly showed Black people dong work which continued the stereotype, which was for the majority to see. The "Transformed Black", gave Black people the chance to show that they are more than just workers, and that they were advancing in everything. The "Role Model" genre, were photos that influenced Black people to have pride in their race and to strive for success. When I think of photos of this genre at that time, I picture photos of social leaders during the New Negro movement. I also picture photos of Black military officers, nurses, businessmen, and students. The "Role Model" genre gave Black people hope and something to look up to instead of seeing images of fellow Blacks as servants. 
5. I believe this quote has a significant meaning because it shows the power one has in capturing an image, whether its a photo or a video. The image itself is the story, and the person capturing this image is telling the story. There is a reason why the photographer captures an image in any particular way. There is a purpose for every image, and with digital photography, the photographer has the ability to edit the image. Today photographers have the technology to make a person appear completely different in a picture than how they do in reality. Willis states, "These photographers are not only creating and constructing their own biographies; they are also participating as artists in the evolution of their medium" (195). This quote is an example of how much power photographers have because to this day millions of people are judged every day because of an image.    

Discussion for "Spectacles of Whiteness"

- The photos from this section and in Willis's book show the importance of photography at that time and the effect these images had with the media. The higher culture used images of African Americans to keep them down an to show them the role that they are meant to have, which was to work and serve for them. These images also dehumanized African Americans which defined "blackness" for the White audience. African American photographers looked to capture photos of people with prominence and of the middle-class, which defied the stereotype of "blackness", and how it appeared to White people as. These photographers goals were to define "blackness" in a positive way, which played a significant role in the New Negro movement. These photos featured Black leaders, who inspired Black people to be proud of their race, and to strive for better lives. After seeing these images I realized how important it was for the majority of the public and for Blacks to see them. These images were important for the media to show to the public so the majority would stop dehumanizing Black people.

- In the, "Spectacles of Whiteness", there were a few images of White people at lynchings, which captured my attention. These people were gathered together as if they were at a parade, and were smiling from ear to ear in the photos. In the article the Smith quotes Roberta Smith stating, "What takes the breath away is the sight of all the white people, maskless, milling about, looking straight at the camera as if they had nothing to be ashamed of, often smiling" (120). This quote shows that White people were proud to part take in the event and that lynching was a southern tradition to show white supremacy. These images show the power of white supremacy and how they could simply dehumanize a Black man and humiliate him and burn him in front of thousands with no sympathy at all.

-The difference between a mug shot and a studio portrait, is the story behind the images. The mug shot is taken against one's will, and the image labels this individual as a "criminal". Studio portrait photos were a tradition, in which African Americans traveled to studios to be photographed for a positive purpose. Many African Americans had their pictures taken to show that they were a part of the New Negro movement, and that they did not abide to the stereotype of "blackness", defined by the White man. The only similarity between mug shots and studio portraits, are the facial expressions on the faces of the people in the photos. Most individuals do not smile in their mug shots, and they often had a strong stern look. In many studio portrait photos, individuals and groups of African Americans had this same "mug-shot" like look as well in the photos.

-The photographic postcard in, "Spectacles of Whiteness", which was the lynching of Lige Daniels, August 3,1920, Center, Texas (126). In this image there is a young boy, who is not showing much emotion at this event. In these images of White people at lynchings, most of them look excited, and some show no emotion at all. I chose this photo because of the boy, who may be witnessing a lynching for the first time. This young boy, who is still learning the ways of life is attending this lynching, which is a gathering of thousands of White people from all over Texas. His parents brought him to this event to witness Lige Daniels, a Black man be dehumanized. The boy will remember this forever and in his mind this will be the right thing to do as a white supremacist in training. The fact that parents brought their children to witness such a gruesome act of violence, shows how violent their culture was.

-This passage from the text was disturbing for me to read, "And, of course, lynching itself could not occur without some form of legal and state sanction, as men were pulled out of jails and wrested from armed guards, as newspapers advertised lynchings, schools closed so that children could attend, and trains offered free or reduced fares to..." (121). I had to take a break from reading this article because I was so appalled from what I have just read. The fact that schools closed as if it were some sort of holiday is unbelievable. The White community treated lynchings as if they were parades or festivals. 

-I believe Smith included certain photos in this article to show true white supremacy, and how dehumanizing Black people was a tradition for them. The photos show excited groups of White people, as if their favorite singer was about to perform a show. The images with the kids attending the lynchings have powerful messages as well. Smiling faces, and children at lynchings, shows white supremacy at its finest which is why it still exists today. African Americans were dehumanized for a number of years, and today we are still trying to prove that we are just as "human" as anybody else.