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Fred Blackwell Hero Quotes

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Historian Alan Brinkley once proclaimed, “History is the product of struggles by courageous individuals who stand against the temper of their time and bear witness to injustice.” Brinkley conveys how history can only be made by the people who are fearless enough to stand up for their rights and freedoms whether it be against the social norm or not. The ability to challenge societies’ injustices would, in turn, be the definition of a hero. The essence of Brinkley’s quote is shown through Fred Blackwell’s iconic photograph of three unnerved students being attacked by a disdainful white mob. The image portrays how the brave hearted college students, black and white, unite together in order to protest against racial segregation. Elements of irony, …show more content…

Blackwell had gotten a job for the Jackson Daily News as an apprentice to Pulitzer Prize winner, Jack Thornell. M. J. O’Brien states in is book, We Shall Not Be Moved: The Jackson Woolworth’s Sit-In and the Movement It Inspired, that “Since Blackwell knew many of the high school kids causing the ruckus, Blackwell found it somewhat strange being on the other side of the camera, shooting images of his neighbors during this surreal event.” Blackwell’s photograph, while confounding, symbolizes the insensible cruelties protesters faced while questioning racial discrimination. The panoramic view displays a perspective from the counter, as if one were sitting beside the peaceful protesters being taunted and threatened. The audience is able to watch the spectacle from a sit at the counter, so they are able to experience the cruelties themselves. In the far left corner, an animated donut department advertisement can be seen behind the white mob. The element depicts a sense of “fun” as students torture their fellow classmates. The sign amid all the chaos shows the contrast between innocent playfulness and violent abuse. In the right corner of the picture, a small American flag looms over the crowd. The flag represents freedom and equality which becomes a symbol of irony. The students sitting at the counter fight for racial equality, yet the crowd bombards them with brutality. Next to the flag, just cut off, is another photographer standing above the crowd in order to get the perfect angle. Although he has no bravery to stand up against the adversaries, the photographer, just like Blackwell, are as helpless as the police waiting outside. The photographers were considered about their own safety and couldn’t risk defending someone, without becoming part of the protest. Below the photographer, one of the protesters is seen with a white streak of what might be sugar, heaved over her

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