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Martin


Martin
Photo Information
Copyright: Hugh Siegel (bombilla) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 308 W: 85 N: 147] (1950)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-01-13
Categories: Event, Friends/Family, Mood
Camera: Nikon D50, Nikkor 18-55mm AF-S DX f3.5-5.6, UV Filter
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-01-17 17:01
Viewed: 506
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
We stand outside of the experience. We can never understand. But we grieve and we believe and we light a candle against the night as our hearts beat and the sounds of infamous days echo in the rain.

This is the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. On April 4, 1868, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was standing in front of room 306, where he had been staying right before he was to lead a march of sanitation workers protesting against low wages and poor working conditions. As he stood on the balcony, he was hit in the neck by a bullet fired at him from a high-powered rifle. The assassination ended the life of one of America's most important civil rights leaders. Upon news of King's death, riots broke out across America. Dozens died. But the movement had a martyr, and it would not be stopped. It couldn't be. The long legacy of hatred, brutality and discrimination was being dismantled -- at least in its legal sense.

Today, despite the great strides made by blacks in the United States, African Americans still suffer from systematic discrimination. Today, in the supposedly "greatest country on earth," the economic status of African Americans is 56 percent that of white Americans. Some 73% of black men coming out of high school are unemployed.

Of black males born this year, 29 percent can expect to spend some time behind bars.

One in 14 black children has a parent in jail or prison.

One in 20 black men is incarcerated, compared with one in 155 white men.

For every three black men in college, four are in prison.

Despite this, or maybe because of it, Americans celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. every year on the third Monday of January.

This year, I was in Memphis for the holiday. This photo was taken at the Lorraine Motel, which is now the National Civil Rights museum -- a fascinating and important institution that should be visited by every American.

The museum has been incorporated into the carefully preserved motel. In addition to exploring an extensive array of exhibits about the history of the civil rights movements in the U.S., visitors can view room 306 where Dr. King was staying right before he died, perfectly preserved, just as it was.

Another photo is posted HERE at TrekEarth.
rokoslav, sbelkoski, salil, Polonaise, rychousmama has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rychousmama: Thanks, Larabombilla 1 01-30 11:19
To Polonaise: Thanks for the workshopbombilla 1 01-23 16:25
To Polonaise: Two experiences . . .bombilla 2 01-18 23:19
To rewshearer: Hi, Rewbombilla 1 01-18 11:00
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Critiques [Translate]

It's a beautiful portrait! I like the composition and the blurred background. The note is most interesting. I learned the facts I didn't know.

Excellent composition and light, and a well written summary in your note.
I hadn't heard the "greatest country on Earth" label, I presume it's a self-adopted title - in which case it speaks volumes and certainly, as you point out, highlights the irony of the nation's dysfunction.
Great work!
Rew

hello hugh!
very nice portrait and great DOF
tfs
zoran

  • Great 
  • salil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 581 W: 18 N: 295] (2106)
  • [2007-01-18 9:54]

Very good, Hugh. You have chosen the perfect POV and the model with her eyes closed in memoriam has created the right ambience.
Excellent note.
Salil

  • Great 
  • Shogun Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 832 W: 52 N: 418] (10391)
  • [2007-01-18 11:09]

nice composition Hugh. great capture on the expression. nice one on the sharp subject and a bit blurr on the BG. Thanks for sharing.

Shogun

It hits strong and holds tightly...
It should...
For, every great man deserves to be heard...Even if thru sound of blast explosion of bullet leaving the barrel...
Bang Bang - that awful sound...
Will we EVER understand ?
Them...

I had always seen this photo in the thumbnail and I didn't catch on until I clicked on the photo and read the note that this building was the hotel that MLK Jr. was assasinated at. It is so true that White Supremacy still looms large and thankyou so much for the statistics and notes. Just to add: the racial disparity is even greater among female jail and prison inmates than male prisoners, so black women are MUCH more likely to be incarcerated than White women. Good POV from slightly below and I like the cool gray and blue tones that remind the viewer of the serious subject. Good with your friend's facial expression and eyes closed showing respect and solemnity. Excellent cropping gives focus, thanks so much for the link to this photo! For folks who want to find out another modern-day instance of racism, please see my photo titled "MLK Day", this is not to simply promote my photo but rather to help Hugh spread the message and to raise awareness about White Supremacy in America (that is why I posted my photo in the first place). Thanks again Hugh! Points later
-Lara

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