
The image I have chosen is an album cover for the band “The Roots”, and was released in the year 1999. I chose this image because I appreciate the visual aspect of it, as well as the deeper and analytical side. Although this album cover was released in the late 1990’s, the image was taken in the civil rights era. Further research revealed that it was taken during a riot in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York in the 1960’s. It captures two African American teenagers running from ten police officers chasing them. The monochromatic color scheme highlights major aspects of the photo. During the civil rights era discrimination was a major issue, and this image is an ideal representation of that because it emphasizes the black versus white concept that was present in society at the time. The image brings light to racial discrimination in the 1960’s and the fact that it is still an issue in today’s society through the use of a monochromatic color scheme and by using analytical elements within and outside of the image. 

The image demonstrates a monochromatic color scheme, meaning that all colors within the image derive from a single hue. In this case, shades of black and white are used throughout. The use of this color scheme emphasizes the racial discrimination and black versus white concept that was heavily present in society when the photo was taken in the 1960’s. Black was seen as bad while white was good. Ironically, the police officers are dressed in all black uniforms, with the only white present being their skin tone. The black teenagers are both wearing white clothing, making them stand out against the dark background. The color white is also associated with innocence and purity, and black with darkness and evil. Although the two teenagers are black in skin tone, their white clothing portrays their innocence while the darkness around the white men shows their poor and damaging reputation due to their harsh racism. The look of fear on the girl’s face appeals to viewer’s emotions by encouraging sympathy to be felt for the African Americans. It gives the impression that they are innocent and free of guilt, unlike the men chasing them. Although the image has a black and white color scheme, there is one element in color, the album title. The album title contributes to the overall theme of the image because it could be interpreted to mean that the “thing” falling apart is society, or the people in it that are racially discriminating. “Things fall apart” is in red, which is often associated with war, passion and danger. These words can all be used to describe the community during the civil rights movement. There was a war between whites and blacks; people were filled with passion over the issue of racial discrimination because African Americans felt they were in danger. 

By closely analyzing elements within the image, it is evident that the photo is trying to make a point that racial discrimination was not only an issue during the civil rights movement, but in today’s society as well. In the image two African American teenagers are running forward, towards the camera. They are also running towards the light and away from darkness. The light they are running towards could be the future, a better future where racism does not exist. They are running away from darkness, which could be the racial divide that existed in the 1960’s. There is also trash on the ground that the two are forced to run over. The garbage symbolizes the hurdles African American’s were forced to overcome at the time due to racism. The fact that the man has not run past all of the trash symbolizes that there is more trouble to come in the future, in this case, racism. Meaning, while racial discrimination was a major issue in the 1960’s, it is also a problem in today’s society. Looking at the numbers, there are two African Americans running away from almost ten police officers. The African Americans are outnumbered in the image just like how they were outnumbered in society, and surrounded by darkness and racism. 

There are also elements outside of the image that prove the white versus black concept during the 1960’s, and the fact that it’s still an issue in today’s society. The album was released in the year 1999, yet the image on the album cover was taken during the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. Using the image thirty years after it was taken was not a mindless action, it was methodical and thought out. The band was trying to convey a message to their audience, and used this image to do so. They saw history repeating itself, racism happening in their society just like in the 1960’s, when the image was taken. They brought light and attention to the issue of racial discrimination, and wanted to make a change or make people want to see a change using this shocking image. 

The 1999 album cover for the band “The Roots” used a monochromatic color scheme and elements within and outside of the image in order to bring awareness to racial discrimination in the civil rights era and in today’s society. These elements worked together to portray the black versus white concept within society, and used aspects in the image to make connections to today’s society. I admire the band for using the image in order to bring light to the issue. It brings attention to the issue of racial inequality that is still present in society today. It makes a statement saying that although times have changed, racial inequality has not. 