
We humans like to divide ourselves into different groups. We would like to think that we are all different, and for the most part we are. However, we all share some similarities, One in particular is our ability to feel sympathetic to others pain. Through framing, color, and facial expression, this photo by Eduardo Munoz/Reuters shows how it feels to be a victim of police brutality, as well as what it means to witness it. 

The picture was taken on july 22, 2016 in New York City. It depicts an unnamed black teenager who is being detained by NYPD while participating in a Black Lives Matter protest. There is not background information that states the teen was breaking any laws, so we are left to assume he is being detained for merely protesting.

The use of framing within this picture is rather significant because it focuses our attention to the important and relevant aspects of the image.  We first see the black teen in the center surrounded by police officers. This illustrates just how much the police are overreacting. They have an entire squad out to detain one teenager. We also see several photographers in the very top of the image being almost pushed out of frame by the police. The officers seem to be blocking the photographers from documenting the situation as if they know what they are doing is wrong and don’t want the public to know. We also see what appears to be the police chief himself turning his back to the cruel act. Is he doing this because he is distracted by something else? I propose he is more likely trying to stay ignorant to the actions of his police force so he does not have to take responsibility for their injustice. 

In regards to the color of the image, there is the contrast between the black teen and the white cop detaining him, This could be taken many ways.  However the most likely is that the brutality of the police is mostly geared towards the black community. Moreover, we see a contrasts in the standard officer’s black uniforms and their chief wearing a white uniform.  The officers, who wear black, are the ones doing the dirty work, and the chief, who wears white, is the public figure with clean hands. It could be said the chief is trying to give off an image of the police being good. 

The facial expressions we see in the image lend a significant layer to the message of the image. We notice the young boy intense look of pain as the cops surround and detain him. This clearly represents the cruelty of the police, but we also see all the officers seem to have blank emotionless faces. They seem to have no remorse or care for the pain they are causing.  We also see the faces of the photographers whose faces show sadness for the teen. One of the photographers actually seems to be frozen in shock of the event occurring in front of him. This helps to portray the brutality being carried out by the police force. 

In closing, we see through framing, color, and facial expression this image shows how the police are abusing their power and how it is affecting the public. Whether or not it is enough to call the US citizens to action to put a stop to this curtly is yet to be know.
