




The image captured by Dickinson depicts the ongoing battle between protestors and the police force in Ferguson, Missouri. Ferguson, which was the powdered keg that blew up the United States protests against police brutality, has become the epicenter for protest motivation for movements like “Black Lives Matter,” and “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot.” The image gives a perspective from the protestors standpoint. The clash between both sides is heated, which can be exemplified by the graffiti on the mailbox and the cops’ uniforms. The image forces the viewer to see the police as a stampeding force because the only civilian in view seems to be listening to the cops and staying still. The picture evokes a feeling that the government is taking over and people are being suppressed. The image can give a sense of what the situation is like in Ferguson.

The picture contains a man with his arms raised as police officers march towards him. The cops are wearing camouflage uniforms while bearing automatic weapons and a redundant array of accessories that are not needed for the present situation. The mailbox that the cops are marching past has graffiti that reads “Fuck The Police,” which gives the viewer a sense of the local mindset towards law-enforcement. The police have their weapons aimed at the man, who has his arms raised. Although the military is moving down the street, the town itself seems like a typical suburban area.

This visual text can show the perspective of a protestor. The civilian also has his back turned to the camera, which keeps him undetailed and anonymous. This enables the viewer to identify with him and see themselves in his situation. The image gives a biased perspective because it shows the cops as an overwhelming, suppressing force against an innocent civilian. The graffiti also makes the cops seem unwanted. The image can show the viewer the local feelings of protestors. Although the cops are supposed to make people feel safe and protected, there is a clear issue in Ferguson. The people are fed up with police attitudes and are finally standing up to them, as shown in the image.

The image asks the onlooker to see the civilian as an innocent man that has guns pointed at him for no reason, even though he has responded to the usual police order of raising his hands. It is a biased view. If the image was captured from above or from the police perspective, it could show a different landscape. The new view could show a hostile environment in which the police are scared for their life. In both cases, every side has fear for the other, and there is always a chance for spontaneity. 

The picture makes a viewer feel a sense of overpowering by the government. A black kid was shot by a police officer and Ferguson leaped to action. The people of the city banded together and began to protest against the racial issues associated with the police. The image can show the problems. Almost all of the police are white, while the only civilian that is present is black and he has guns pointed at him. This image can show how people in Ferguson really feel; how they feel that the police are targeting them and are fearful.  

Tim Dickinson was able to capture the entire issue of Ferguson in one image. The image shows the type of protest, how it was handled, the feelings of some of the people and how each side responded. Every aspect of the picture from the stance of the police to the graffiti on the mailbox can exemplify the present issues in Ferguson. Although the image gives a biased perspective to the situation, it can successfully show the event from a single viewpoint. 


