Protest at Klan rally

Photo 2 is an amazing shot, reminiscint of the photography that got me interested in the art in the first place...great work.

did you ask the young man if you could take his pic or did you just fire away?
 
I'm sure that the local residents in Tomball weren't happy campers. Where was Klan, in front of the courthouse?
 
Yep, the 2nd photo showing the Nation of Islam border guard between you and the speaker is very nicely done.
 
"Nice series .... to me, being a European and living in Europe it's hard to imagine that the KKK is still "alive" Even harder to imagine that it's condoned (shere ignorance on my part btw)"

Jan Cornelius

I wouldn't actually use the term "condoned."
 
Todd, excellent shots.

I think the fact that you weren't using a long lens didn't make you look like a Fed or the press there to shoot a one sided account of the event. Ah, the power of the rangefinder.

I think the Nation of Islam and the "new" Black Panthers are more approachable than the KKK. They want their message to be heard and understood. This isn't all that new. I think it's more that there is less of the inflamatory rhetoric than there had been in the 60's and 70's.

I can't wait to see more.
 
Right Solinar, and the residents were not happy to say the least. People rallied around the Black Panthers and the other groups, but those guys ain't exactly boy scouts either (if you know what I mean).
 
It's good that it is legal for these groups to organize as opposed to being "legislated" out of existence, which would only drive them underground. A sign of true progress will occur when they all disband out of a lack of interest :)
 
First thing I thought when I clicked on the first photo was that it's good to see so many young people involved, which means that I wasn't thinking "what a nice photo." That's the essence of a good news photography. Good job.
 
Todd.Hanz said:
... People rallied around the Black Panthers and the other groups, but those guys ain't exactly boy scouts either (if you know what I mean).
Click to expand...

Nope they definitely aren't. Some of the latest rhetoric isn't any less bigotted or reactionary than that of the Klan. Both sides are born of racial or religious mistrust. Both sides point across the line and blame the other. Both spout the rhetoric of intolerance. What is interesting is that both sides have attenuated their stance to make themselves seem more legit.

I don't know if this remains true, but The Nation of Islam and the Black Panther Party had been listed by the US Government as violent radicals. Along with Green Peace. While The KKK and American Nazis were not.

I like that you have gone out to capture the event from your POV. And now, people all over the world can see through your eyes.
 
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a couple more.....

a couple more.....

here's a few more.....

the old guy with the dog is a resident taking it all in, the other guy is holding up an effigy of a black man hanging with a rope.

Todd
 
Todd...wow. You have amazing talent and you show us this with every photo. That second image of the first set is just heavy. That is the kind of shot that will make years of shooting worth it. I'm envious. :D

You are also talking me in to a 28mm. I had no idea that they could work so closely, without epic distortion. Ignorance from lack of use, I am guessing. I need to try one, now.
 
Why is that so hard for a European to understand Jan? I just read an article (a few months ago) about the resurgance of Neo-Nazi-ism in swaths of Germany and France. Not to mention the recent election where Le Pen was in a direct runoff against Chirac. (Not that Le Pen is a Nazi, but still...)

Ignorance and racism persist everywhere. People are just more comfortable with the devil they know I guess. I mean, the Klan are just white trash hicks... but the thought of Nazis makes my blood run cold.
 
Manolo Gozales said:
Hey:)

Came across THESE over at tpf. Pretty weak compared with Todd's, I think.

ManGo
Click to expand...

Thanks MagGo,
I saw her, and funny thing is I'm in few of her pics, my brother is in several others (he was using a video recorder). If you had a press pass you had a few more opportunities, I managed to follow a few other PJ's into some areas but when asked for credentials I was turned away, should have said I shoot for "Rangefinder Forum" or something (Jorge' can I get a badge or something :) ).
It was an adrenaline rush that day, I pretty much threw caution to the wind and got as close as I wanted and where I wanted.

BTW, now that I'm here at work viewing the pics on a PC (I use a MAC at home) I realize that they are very dark, I'll have to fix that.

Thanks for all the comments!

Todd
 
Jan Cornelius said:
Nice series .... to me, being a European and living in Europe it's hard to imagine that the KKK is still "alive" Even harder to imagine that it's condoned (shere ignorance on my part btw)
Click to expand...


The European perspective is interesting. One of the difference is that in the U.S. people tend to believe it's better to allow such groups to operate in public where it is easier to keep tabs on them than to drive them underground.

I was in Europe in the early 80s' and a lot of people were quite outspoken in their criticism of the influx of "foreign" emigrants to their countries. From what I have read, that resentment seems to be growing in a lot of areas. Meanwhile, some of the same people criticize the U.S. for allowing some lunic fringe groups like the KKK to continue to operate. A little hypocritical, I believe.
 
I'm glad Todd's pictures were not taken in Canada, for a couple of reasons, one of them being that he would have won our little "Slice of Life in Canada" competition hands down!
 
Neither did I, but just a few days ago there were burning crosses in a town close to where I live.
Just this time it was in Latino neighborhoods

Jan Cornelius said:
Nice series .... to me, being a European and living in Europe it's hard to imagine that the KKK is still "alive" Even harder to imagine that it's condoned (shere ignorance on my part btw)
Click to expand...

I'm latino, and very proud of it, and find that in Europe the hatred to the foreigners/different-skin is even worse than in the US because it is mixed with arrogance.
A lot of my country-mates emigrated to the european union, and they are segregated a lot. They went there because they were offered jobs nobody else would take and they were trying to secure the future of the next generation, they do their job and after a few years of taking &^%^& they get fed-up of that slavery and come back to enjoy their earnings.

I have this project in my mind, one day I'll do it to go to Spain and document "Madrid en lo ojos de un sudaca"
 
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todd...

i saw this thread and have a similar rally coming soon in my town...

i am inspired to try the same thing --- possibly konica hexar af and maybe another camera
 
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