LeadTrac Photography

Friday, February 5, 2016

Local Organization Commemorates MLK Jr.’s birth with a Protest March

Even today; the mention of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.’s name elicits many emotions in American citizenry; for some, sadness mixed with joy, pride, and remembrance of a seminal period of race relations in our country; for others, an opportunity to finally speak out, in force, against the injustices many of them had witnessed being perpetrated on innocent men women and children; still, for others, the name conjures up feelings of uneasiness, fear, resentment, anger, and sometimes, downright hatred; and, of course, there are those who equate Doctor King’s name and memory with the destruction of American democracy; at least ; their definition of American democracy.

People gather to commemorate Dr. King through celebration and protest

However; for a moment, let’s forget the historical significance of Dr. King; let’s set aside his status as a social justice paragon; let’s discount those who would describe him as a modern day Moses; lets disregard the notion he was one of the most persuasive and prolific speakers of the 20th Century; let’s ignore he put himself, front and center, in a fight he could easily have avoided; finally, let’s remove his race from the equation. I know; I know, my argument has just lost all credibility; because persons who lose their minds usually lose credibility as well; but ride this horse with me for a few more words while I explain. Though in the overall scheme of things it is hard to separate an iconic ethic symbol from their ethnicity; however, once we peel away the 2 square meters of troublesome, but necessary, skin that covers us all, we cease to see everything through that internal filter through which we invariably view the world. Once that filter is removed, or, at least, disengaged, we can sing along to the 70’s Johnny Nash hit “I can see clearly now”. For then and only then, can we see those important traits; those endearing qualities; those defining characteristics of the person in question that really matter. That is when you can clearly see a person’s ideology, talent, drive, passion, morality, character, and humanity in its true light.

Doctor King, to some degree, deserves all of the above listed accolades; but I want to look at him as a man; not as a perfect man, not as a flawless man; but, as a man; as an American Citizen; as the epitome of what type of man America is, and always has been capable of producing. Not only was Dr. King a product of the American dream; he was the very embodiment of the American dream. Below is a short summary of his accomplishments; and let me remind you he achieved all of this in 39 short years:

· King was born in 1939

At Age 13 he became the youngest assistant manager of a newspaper delivery station for the Atlanta Journal

· At Age 15 he passed an entrance exam for Morehouse College

· Graduated Booker T. Washington High School at 16

· 1948 Graduated Morehouse College with a degree in Sociology

· Elected student body president of Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania

· 1951 Graduated Crozer Theological Seminary

· 1954 Became Pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama

· 1955 Received his Ph.D. systematic theology, Boston University

· 1955 Led the Montgomery Bus Boycott

· 1957 Co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

· 1958 Authored Stride toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story; a memoir of the 1955-56 Montgomery Bus Boycotts.

· 1958 Narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a book signing.

· 1963 Gave his now famous “I have a dream” speech, one of the most memorable of the 20th century, to a quarter of a million attendees of the march and untold millions via television while standing before the Lincoln Memorial.

· 1964 Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

· 1965 Organized marches that proved instrumental in the passage of Voting Rights Act.

· 1967 He began to speak out against the Vietnam War

· April 4 1968 King was assassinated

The point is, Dr. King; his life, death, and accomplishments are NOT an African American story; his – is an American story. The American Dream is based on the construct that every American can possibly achieve success; not only was his life the consummation, of the American dream; his life is every American’s dream; to see and live life, seize the moment, pursue your dream, maximize your potential, evolve and grow as a person, find a purpose in life, and perhaps most important, make a difference in your world.

Unfortunately, for many, the American dream continues to be just that – a dream; for others – little more than a cruel joke. The concept of the American Dream has never been presented as a promise in and of itself; the promise is based on an idyllic fairness and the conviction that opportunity awaits any American citizen; not necessarily success; but opportunity. Therefore, in theory, no one is guaranteed the things they want out of life in this country; but are guaranteed the opportunity to pursue them. When people are even denied the opportunity afforded others; they can get angry; become resentful; they lose hope and, this country; our country; America, loses a pillar upon which its very foundation has always stood.

What is so painfully disheartening is that in many ways we seem to be moving in the wrong direction; as if for some; progress; any progress, such as it is; represents a threat and a challenge that must be dutifully and unquestioningly subdued or even better destroyed; driven into the dust. So when we question why people are still marching in the streets; the answer is quite simple; because it’s still necessary.

Okay now that I’ve gotten that out of my system; I specializes in shooting unrest; protests, rallies, sit ins, occupations etcetera; I do not see myself as a conflict photographer; as it implies, at least to me, war photography and I have not yet been in a war zone.

The People’s Organization for progress (POP) held their annual International day of protest; officially called, the Martin Luther King Jr. March for Racial Equality, Economic Justice and Peace on January 15; which is the actual date of Dr. King’s birth. The Newark NJ march has traditionally started at the Lincoln statue that sits in front of the courthouse, just south of Essex County College; however; this year; while the marchers gathered at the statue; the march officially started with the participants honoring and saluting a recently unveiled statue of Dr. King that stands just outside the Hall of Records on MLK Boulevard.

I shot the march in black and white; to me it gives them a timeless feel and acts as a homage to the people who participated in and photographers who covered the events unfolding in the 50’s and 60’s.

As always; comments are welcomed; even encouraged.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Newark Students Protest for Better Education

Nicauris Veras, Junior, Shabazz High School leads the charge for a quality education.

First let me clarify, this is not a news story. This week’s blog is based on a protest march I photographed last June, but never actually posted. The Newark Student’s Union had staged a number of sit-ins and student walkouts throughout the 2014-15 school year demanding the removal of Cami Anderson, as superintendent of the Newark public school system. Anderson, a friend of former Newark Mayor and current U.S. Senator Cory Booker, was appointed to the position, by Gov. Chris Christie in 2011, to oversee a school system that has been under state control for more than 20 years. Obviously, this is no longer a news story, six-months after the fact; however, the ultimate goal of Newark Public school autonomy is still relevant, and the battle, ongoing, in that respect, the post may not be news; however, it’s pertinent. I believe these images should be seen, and the subject broached, so I’m giving you some

Newark high school students from throughout the city pack the City Hall steps and demanded the state appointed School Superintendent step down.

background as a reference. Without getting into this too deeply, several of Cami Anderson’s initiatives, which led to multiple school closings, numerous teacher layoffs, and many students being forced to attend schools far outside of their neighborhood; proved very unpopular with the city’s parents and students. Anderson came under attack, but still had the support of both the Booker Administration and Governor Christie. Ms. Anderson’s position became more untenable when Senator Booker (D, NJ) went to Washington and Raz Baraka, a former high school principal, was elected Newark’s new Mayor. Baraka had campaigned hard on the issue of returning control of the Newark school system to the city.

Approximately 1,000 students from high schools all over the city participated in the walkout.

Last spring, the Newark Student’s Union, in cooperation with NJ Communities, staged a student walkout. Approximately 1,000 students from Barringer, Central, Eastside, Shabazz, Technology, Arts, Science, Weequahic, Westside and University high school, walked out of their classes and descended on City Hall demanding her removal from the position she had held for four years. The students, armed with chant sheets and energy bars, passionately, but peacefully voiced their displeasure with her tenure and called for her dismissal. The students marched from City Hall to the Peter W. Rodino Federal Office Building, a block away, before moving onto the intersection of Miller Street and McCarter Highway; where they sat on the road, tying up traffic and blocking the route to the New Jersey Turnpike for a time, before dispersing shortly before rush hour.

After leaving City Hall, outraged students head to the Peter Rodino Federal Building.

Student protests, or student activism, if you insist, are not a new phenomenon; American students have used protests and demonstrations to express their displeasure with various conditions for at least the last 80 years. In the 1930’s The American Youth Congress, with the support of Eleanor Roosevelt, called out against war and racial discrimination, and demanded more youth programs. They were also fervently against the draft. The women’s suffrage movement, at the turn of the last century, the civil rights demonstrations of the 50’s and 60’s, the Anti- war demonstrations of the late 60’s and early 70’s, and the still ongoing battle for gay rights are all part of America’s proud tradition of dissention and students have always been in the thick of it. America’s belief in dissention and speaking out is older than America itself; after all wasn’t the Revolutionary War the largest, most violent and most direct statement of dissention in American history? Yes, yes, yes, some would insist it was the Civil War, but, for right now, climb down from your soapbox; we’ll save that argument for another posting.

Jose Leonardo, Vice President, Newark Students Union Fires up the crowd

Perhaps the most infamous incident in recent memory concerning student activism dates back to1970. In May of that tumultuous year, Iowa State troopers massacred four anti-war demonstrators and wounded nine more at Kent State University. However, instead of frightening and demoralizing the students; it galvanized them forming the scattered, individual fingers among them into one unified fist and that fist descended on the National Guard Armory demanding justice for those killed.

American students have a long and proud history of speaking out against the Status quo.

Most recently, black football players at the University of Missouri, supported ongoing anti-discrimination demonstrations, by refusing to play until the ouster of, University President, Timothy M. Wolfe, because of his failure to deal with racial tensions on campus. The protesting players, in turn, garnered the support of their coaches and many of their white teammates, eventually leading to Wolfe’s resignation.

Shabazz High School student leads a chant.

For her part, Anderson, who did eventually step down, believes the attacks on her and her programs were politically motivated, she told New York Times reporter, Kate Zernike, the debate had lost its focus and become an ideological minefield. Anderson, right or wrong, became a casualty of a nationwide debate on the best way to improve the public education system, a system that was once the world standard, but, is now, routinely mediocre. Meanwhile, the battle for local school autonomy rages on unabated.

Newark students desperately and forcefully demanded better educational opportunities.

As for the students, while it was fairly apparent they were being schooled on the organization and etiquette of protesting by others far more experienced than themselves; the printed chant sheets and the energy bar distribution was a dead giveaway; however, the outrage, the passion, and the determination to have a voice in their own future belonged to the students, exclusively. Did the students have all the facts?

Probably not; should the students have a voice or should they adhere to the old adage, “if you are not old enough to vote, you are not old enough to have an opinion”? Not a chance. This is their future at stake here, and they will be the ones who will have to deal with the consequences of our mistakes and misdeeds; and without a quality education they will forever be, stuck climbing the mountain of life wearing lead lined shoes and the albatross of our political posturing and manipulation hanging from their necks. Kahlil Gibran could not have stated it more accurately or succinctly than in his seminal work, “The Prophet”, when he wrote You may give your children your love, but not your thoughts, you may house their bodies, but not their souls, you may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you, for life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday.

Grace Tyler leads a call for quality education

Not all of the protesters were students.

Protest slogans were read from preprinted chant sheets.

Nicauris Veras, Grace Tyler and another student confer on strategy.

Students take their complaints to the Peter Rodino Federal Building.

The students enjoyed widespread support for their cause.

We Will Be Heard

Until next time; peace and love to you.

A.T. Lee is a freelance photojournalist and essayist covering social and political issues in Northern New Jersey, NYC, and Washington D.C.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

You know its spring when the paint starts to fly, Holi celebration at New York’s Columbia University

Recently I headed over to Columbia University to participate in this year’s Holi celebration, presented by the university’s Hindu Student’s Organization (HSO.) like most modern holidays, Holi began as a religious festival, in this case an ancient Hindu festival, in India; but, it has grown through the years to transcend, not only its religious roots, but the county of its origin as well. In its modern rendition throughout Asia, Europe and North America, Holi, also known as the festival of colors, has become a celebration of the arrival of spring, featuring bright vibrant colors, music laugher, dance, and love. The celebration entails, but is not limited to, smearing one another with paint and dousing each other with colored water, all done in the spirit of celebration and fun. It is a perfect celebration for the young and the young at heart.

While most who know me have reconciled with the dubious truth that I am practically addicted to shooting in black and white; that does not even come close to making sense when photographing this wonderful, and very colorful, Hindu celebration. I must say what affected me most being there, was the sheer joy of the event and the unparalleled camaraderie among those who attended. It encouraged me immensely and strengthened an optimism that has taken a pretty brutal beating as of late; that perhaps the world is not going to hell in a hand basket. One can only hope.

p.s. Since there are so many photographs in this series, I will have to do this blog in two parts.