HISTORY
How Photography Inspired the Passing of The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Sometimes a picture is really worth a thousand words
The summer of 1964 was a pivotal moment in American history. Since the country’s founding, Black people endured a second-class status, first as slaves, then segregated into ghettos. Nearly every activity someone could participate in, from attending public school to visiting hospitals, banks, and even swimming pools, was separated by race. And while a Black coalition of activists and their allies challenged the racist status quo, many White people protested integration efforts. Some committed heinous acts to maintain racial apartheid. Witnessing the lengths they were willing to go to to divide us inspired the nation to pass legislation protecting citizens’ civil rights.
Every art form has a unique sphere of influence. The most potent quality of photography is its ability to show rather than tell. One can accuse a piece of writing of being biased, but unless a photo is altered, it’s a slice of unfiltered truth. One such example is a photo taken on June 18, 1964, when a group of Black and White people attended a swim-in, protesting the whites-only policy at the Monson Motor Lodge in St. Augustine, Florida. The hotel manager, James Brock, responded to their protest by dumping…
