Warning - Offensive Photo

I debated whether or not to post this shot. My husband took me to Tazewell Co., VA today to show me this. I was definitely appalled. He drives by it all the time in his job. I shot this from the road. Obviously.

At first when I looked at the shot in PS, I thought the rope was there to stabilize the statuette but my husband told me it used to be attached to the top of the porch like a hangman's noose.

At any rate, it certainly proves that racism is alive and well. I'm not sure what anyone could have to say about it other than that. My question would be when does photojournalism step over the line. Do you document everything you see - no matter how it may hurt or offend people? Or is good to remind people that atrocities exist, e.g., war photos?

Sorry to be such a downer. But since my focus is more towards this aspect of photography, I really need to hear feedback about how to balance documentation with taste.

http://www.pbase.com/image/22267404

Karen

PS Got some great fall landscapes too.

--



'Let us cross over the river and sit under the shade of the trees.'

Last words of General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, killed in error by his own troops at the battle of Chancellorsvillle during the US Civil War, 1863.

it may open some 'complacent' eyes. ;-)

Good photojournalism as always...and I'm glad you stayed in the car to take it!

Show us some fall color pics!
--
Donna
'Retired' in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia, and lovin' it!
http://www.pbase.com/donnar

...needless to say, I was expecting something humorous......but isn't it appalling, and pathetic....that someone would want to 'advertise' his/her disgusting racism in such a terrible way.

I don't think that 'photojournalism' is stepping over the line in showing this photo......the dweller of that home is the one 'stepping over the line', imho.

By documenting what you've seen....since it was not done to perpetuate that kind of thinking, and then expressing what you've said here is all the 'balancing' that is needed. imho

It sure makes me sad to think that there are folks out there that still feel like that......

Looking forward to your autumn color shots!

--
Lucy
Olympus C3020Z
http://www.pbase.com/lucy
'Photography is the art of seeing what others do not.'
...heard on the History Channel

...somebody stole the fishin' pole... ........................................

But seriously Karen...I think you are free to post most any image
you wish around here. I wish there was more we could do to prevent
this type of mentality...but unfortunately there will always be some
folks that don't get it...especially in your neck of the woods... I know
this wouldn't be tolerated in my neighborhood and most others as well.
Still...what can you do??????

Tim

I just want to learn photography...

TheRealTim said:

...somebody stole the fishin' pole...
........................................

But seriously Karen...I think you are free to post most any image
you wish around here. I wish there was more we could do to prevent
this type of mentality...but unfortunately there will always be some
folks that don't get it...especially in your neck of the woods...
I know
this wouldn't be tolerated in my neighborhood and most others as well.
Still...what can you do??????

Tim

I just want to learn photography...

Click to expand...

Could be judging by the condition of the statue that he tied it there to keep it from falling off the porch.
It's probably the reason the fishin pole is missing.
--
In West Virginia there are no strangers.. Only friends we have'nt met..



George, K2EWL http://wwwbg.tripod.com
Pics at http://www.pbase.com/george_druther
also at http://www.bytephoto.com/ (free hosting site)

Some folks are just stupid!! I can't stop someone from thinking certain thoughts but when they open their mouth or do something that puts those thoughts on display for the world to hear and see, I think that gives me the opportunity to call them the way I see them. I wish I could honestly chalk it up to someone just being naive about how incensitive and hurtful things of this nature can be to African Americans, but in this day and age I simply can't.

This is gonna sound funny, but in a way I'm glad the person felt comfortable enough to proudly display the thing on his/her porch....glad, because I now know to simply avoid the moron and not to waste my time on them. But, on the flip side, maybe I need to approach them and open their eyes as to exactly what the figurine stands for. Naw....I think I'll simply avoid them. And ya know if this is placed on someones porch for everyone to see, at a minimum you would also think that the entire neighborhood probably has these same types of feelings. SAD!!

Whats even sadder is that I'm originally from Virginia and I know this type of thinking goes on in my home state and it makes me feel ashamed. IT DOES NOT GO ON THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE THOUGH!! I can 100% assure you that if this thing had been displayed on someones porch in the neighborhood where I'm from, it wouldn't be there for long and the owners would definitely have a few "friendly" visitors at their front door!

So whats the "line" for photojournalism......I don't know. I do know that just about any subject can be talked about as long as its talked about in tasteful and mature manner...even if the subject is distasteful.

dboogie

--
Ooops Up Beside Your Head

That's really about all I can say!!

DaveZ
UZI

Karen Stuebing said:

I debated whether or not to post this shot. My husband took me to
Tazewell Co., VA today to show me this. I was definitely appalled.
He drives by it all the time in his job. I shot this from the road.
Obviously.

At first when I looked at the shot in PS, I thought the rope was
there to stabilize the statuette but my husband told me it used to
be attached to the top of the porch like a hangman's noose.

At any rate, it certainly proves that racism is alive and well. I'm
not sure what anyone could have to say about it other than that. My
question would be when does photojournalism step over the line. Do
you document everything you see - no matter how it may hurt or
offend people? Or is good to remind people that atrocities exist,
e.g., war photos?

Sorry to be such a downer. But since my focus is more towards this
aspect of photography, I really need to hear feedback about how to
balance documentation with taste.

http://www.pbase.com/image/22267404

Karen

PS Got some great fall landscapes too.

--



'Let us cross over the river and sit under the shade of the trees.'

Last words of General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, killed in error
by his own troops at the battle of Chancellorsvillle during the US
Civil War, 1863.

Click to expand...

I find this Forum a terrific source of eye opening wonders from all over the world. The pictures that you and others post here of all sorts of things, including your animals, insects, Fall colours, Snow covered mountain scenes, Your 'Last Resort' and that Statue on the porch never cease to amaze me.

That statue thing wouldn't last for one day here without someone doing something about it. But that's indicative of the different cultures that are displayed on this Forum . All very educational in one way or another. Keep up the good work.

jack
http://www.pbase.com/jackeroo
' Never trust a skinny cook '

Hi Karen,

This is certainly an interesting an emotionally charged subject. If you consider yourself a photojournalist, then I think you should show exactly what you see...after all, you are using the photograph as medium to document your findings.

Just my two cents...

Karen Stuebing said:

I debated whether or not to post this shot. My husband took me to
Tazewell Co., VA today to show me this. I was definitely appalled.
He drives by it all the time in his job. I shot this from the road.
Obviously.

At first when I looked at the shot in PS, I thought the rope was
there to stabilize the statuette but my husband told me it used to
be attached to the top of the porch like a hangman's noose.

At any rate, it certainly proves that racism is alive and well. I'm
not sure what anyone could have to say about it other than that. My
question would be when does photojournalism step over the line. Do
you document everything you see - no matter how it may hurt or
offend people? Or is good to remind people that atrocities exist,
e.g., war photos?

Sorry to be such a downer. But since my focus is more towards this
aspect of photography, I really need to hear feedback about how to
balance documentation with taste.

http://www.pbase.com/image/22267404

Karen

PS Got some great fall landscapes too.

--



'Let us cross over the river and sit under the shade of the trees.'

Last words of General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, killed in error
by his own troops at the battle of Chancellorsvillle during the US
Civil War, 1863.

Click to expand...

Karen Stuebing said:

Do you document everything you see - no matter how it may hurt or
offend people? Or is good to remind people that atrocities exist,
e.g., war photos?

Click to expand...

I think it would be far worse to "look the other way" and pretend such things aren't there. A lot of Germans tried that in the 1930's and look where it got them.

Better to turn over the rocks and expose the slimy things underneath for what they are.

Seriousness aside.... Diid you get the address? I'd like to send them free subscriptions to Jet and Ebony magazines. ;-)

Here are the links:

https://www.ebony.com/subscription/subform_ebx.html
https://www.ebony.com/subscription/subform_jet.html

Or perhaps we could makea nice contribution to the NAACP in their name(s) ?

wonder how anyone can get away with this today.

Not to diminish the intent/meaning of your topic or change the subject, but the ceramic statue made me think of how I had to settle for a caucasion jockey(concrete lawn ornament) instead of the real McCoy (black jockey) . The black jockey is IMO, a a valuable part of Americanna. My wife thought it would not be in good taste and could be offensive. I've also always been bewildered/frustrated that blackface and minstrels are a thing of the past too. To me, painting your face black and singing performing in a minstrel is a compliment to the many talented black singer/musicians that were being emulated. Things go too far at both ends of the spectrum it seems.
John

Karen Stuebing said:

I debated whether or not to post this shot. My husband took me to
Tazewell Co., VA today to show me this. I was definitely appalled.
He drives by it all the time in his job. I shot this from the road.
Obviously.

At first when I looked at the shot in PS, I thought the rope was
there to stabilize the statuette but my husband told me it used to
be attached to the top of the porch like a hangman's noose.

At any rate, it certainly proves that racism is alive and well. I'm
not sure what anyone could have to say about it other than that. My
question would be when does photojournalism step over the line. Do
you document everything you see - no matter how it may hurt or
offend people? Or is good to remind people that atrocities exist,
e.g., war photos?

Sorry to be such a downer. But since my focus is more towards this
aspect of photography, I really need to hear feedback about how to
balance documentation with taste.

http://www.pbase.com/image/22267404

Karen

PS Got some great fall landscapes too.

--



'Let us cross over the river and sit under the shade of the trees.'

Last words of General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, killed in error
by his own troops at the battle of Chancellorsvillle during the US
Civil War, 1863.

Click to expand...

that would be replaced (in the middle of the night) with an old fishing pole.

GUARANTEED!

--

'The very fact that I find myself in agreement with you other minds perturbs me, so that I hunt for points of divergence, feeling the urgent need to make it clear that at least I reached the same conclusions by a different route.'
KimR

I don't know which is worse, overt or covert prejudice.

I remember when I was running a construction crew in East TX back in the 80s. After work, I stopped at a local watering hole with one of my employees who happened to be black. We were told that as a private club, they had just sold the last "monthly membership" so we couldn't go in (TX used to have local liquor laws, including places that required "memberships"). We went back to our hotel to to clean up and go out to dinner with the rest of the crew. When we met the others at the restaurant, two other members of my crew who happened to be white, said that they had gone about 15 minutes prior to the same place and gotten a membership!!! I had them take us all as guests on their membership back to that place, and they had to serve us (being 15 construction workers, I think they were afraid we'd tear the place up, not that we would have).

It just goes to show you that ignorance abounds. Show your photojournalism. It is the responsibility of all decent people to raise the human condition past this sort of thing.

Keep fighting the good fight!

Dang! Wish I'd been there with ya, we might have torn the place up. Just fer the he!! of it. ;-)

curtisls said:

I don't know which is worse, overt or covert prejudice.

I remember when I was running a construction crew in East TX back
in the 80s. After work, I stopped at a local watering hole with one
of my employees who happened to be black. We were told that as a
private club, they had just sold the last "monthly membership" so
we couldn't go in (TX used to have local liquor laws, including
places that required "memberships"). We went back to our hotel to
to clean up and go out to dinner with the rest of the crew. When we
met the others at the restaurant, two other members of my crew who
happened to be white, said that they had gone about 15 minutes
prior to the same place and gotten a membership!!! I had them take
us all as guests on their membership back to that place, and they
had to serve us (being 15 construction workers, I think they were
afraid we'd tear the place up, not that we would have).

It just goes to show you that ignorance abounds. Show your
photojournalism. It is the responsibility of all decent people to
raise the human condition past this sort of thing.

Keep fighting the good fight!

Click to expand...

--

'The very fact that I find myself in agreement with you other minds perturbs me, so that I hunt for points of divergence, feeling the urgent need to make it clear that at least I reached the same conclusions by a different route.'
KimR

I don't know,it may not be that the residents are trying to say anything threatening with this figure on their porch.maybe it just appears that way. Seems to me that people that are flaming racist are not very subtle about it when it comes to putting up exhibits to show their bigotry. I just would put it up to poor taste. Maybe we are reading too much into the figure setting on the porch railing. The picture itself I view as inflamatory. They used to do this type of stuff in the sixties. Of course I could be wrong, and this is only my initial impression of the idea that is assigned as a caption to this photo.

I think you missed what Karen said...this used to be hanging with a 'hangman's noose'...I don't think there is any misinterpretation of the meaning!

Newby said:

I don't know,it may not be that the residents are trying to say
anything threatening with this figure on their porch.maybe it just
appears that way. Seems to me that people that are flaming racist
are not very subtle about it when it comes to putting up exhibits
to show their bigotry. I just would put it up to poor taste. Maybe
we are reading too much into the figure setting on the porch
railing. The picture itself I view as inflamatory. They used to do
this type of stuff in the sixties. Of course I could be wrong, and
this is only my initial impression of the idea that is assigned as
a caption to this photo.

Click to expand...

--
Donna
'Retired' in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia, and lovin' it!
http://www.pbase.com/donnar

Karen,

If we are not aware that problems exist, how can we fix them. You are just making us more aware.

Desert Rat
http://www.pbase.com/fritz_steinke

soooo I guess a hangmans noose swinging from a tree......whites only signs posted above water fountains......the ashes of a burned cross that was prominently set ablaze in front of a black family's home.....are also valuable parts of Americana?? All things in Americas past, IN MY OPINION, are not things to be held in extreme value or to be proud of! And as far as black face being a way of complimenting singers/musicians...puhleeze!!!
So that my post will not get any further off topic.....I'll close.

dboogie
--
Ooops Up Beside Your Head

your post is entirely on topic! And with humble apologies to djohn1...this is exactly the problem we are still facing today. We cannot 'erase' history, but we surely don't need to 'honor' the shameful part of it!

I am very sorry to have ever been in that space...and I have been...simply because I never, in the past, have had the privilege of understanding the impact of this type of 'historical' remembrance.

And, if you all will allow me, the most wonderful aspect of this forum is the enlightenment that has been gleaned from the universal sharing and communication that exists here.

dboogie said:

soooo I guess a hangmans noose swinging from a tree......whites
only signs posted above water fountains......the ashes of a burned
cross that was prominently set ablaze in front of a black family's
home.....are also valuable parts of Americana?? All things in
Americas past, IN MY OPINION, are not things to be held in extreme
value or to be proud of! And as far as black face being a way of
complimenting singers/musicians...puhleeze!!!
So that my post will not get any further off topic.....I'll close.

dboogie
--
Ooops Up Beside Your Head

Click to expand...

--
Donna
'Retired' in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia, and lovin' it!
http://www.pbase.com/donnar

Your picture made me feel -- a chill up my spine, goosebumps, anger, fear, and sadness -- I think you should have taken the picture! How could you not? I look a a lot of pictures that make me feel nothing, and take even more that do the same. You picture made me feel.