In the United States, race relations between whites and blacks has been an ongoing issue for centuries. The unfair treatment of African Americans in the United States can be traced back to the beginning of slavery in our country in 1619. Since the beginning of slavery in the United States, African Americans have been subjected to heinous treatment based purely on the color of their skin. All of the preconceived notions about black people that are put in the heads of young caucasions by their parents are the root cause of the systemic racism in our country.  As our society continues to evolve, the younger generations of whites are beginning to acknowledge that contrary to some people’s beliefs that racism is still alive and well in our country. With the introduction of famous athletes protesting against police brutality and racism, the conversation to resolve these long-lasting problems will continue. When someone sees this photo of an unarmed black woman standing in the middle of the street protesting yet another cop on black shooting, many ideas may run through their head.  Black woman, like the one pictured, are out protesting in cities across the country to send a message that they do not want their husbands, sons, or nephews to be the next victim of police brutality. The main purpose of the artist taking this photo, in Ferguson, Missouri, was to give his audience a feeling for what the black community is up against in their fight against racial oppression and constant injustice that they encounter on a daily basis. 

The author’s intended audience for this photo is truly anyone who is willing to look at it, specifically those who do not believe that racism in the United States is an important issue.  His decision to publish this text was to raise awareness around the country regarding the relationship between the black community in many cities and the police. The purpose of this photo was to give his audience a look into the protests that black communities are carrying out all across the nation in hope of change. When the visual artist took this photo, his main objective was to raise questions regarding various police departments handling of high-risk situations involving the African American communities. The photo that he took of the woman in the street did just that. As someone takes a look at this photo, they may raise the question, “Would there be twenty-five officers in SWAT gear if a white woman was protesting in the same manner in which the black woman is protesting in the photo?” Although there would be a large array of answers to this question depending on who you ask, the majority would say no. There would not be that many officers in that type of gear for the same type of protest by a white woman, and there lies the problem. 

As the audience looks at this photo, they will notice how peculiar it really is. The visual artist did an amazing job of only showing the audience what he or she wanted you to see. The artist attempted to make it look as if it was a singular black woman being surrounded by twenty-five police officers, which was probably not the case. In reality, there was probably a large group behind her that were protesting the same thing. His main point for only showing the one woman was to make it seem like she is overpowered in this scenario and that she holds no power. The angle at which the artist took this photo is taken shows the aggressive nature that the cops approached her with, while she was doing nothing wrong. The fact that she was alone and in such a vulnerable position gives the audience the idea that this is how many black people feel when they encounter the police. Being black in America is a lot more difficult than many white people may think, it means being subjected to different treatment from the police. Some of these differing treatments include, random searches of their belongings, being approached very cautiously by the police, etc.

The visual elements of this image make me think of the life of a young black male in our current society. Although this image does not have any black males in it at all, I automatically think of the reason that this female is in the streets protesting. The image that the author chose has undeniable underlying message regarding the lives of black people in our country.  The cause of the protest seen in the photo is directly correlated to the lives of young black men in the United States. From a very young age, black males are subjected to very different treatment from the police and society as a whole compared to white males. Years have passed and changes have been promised, but there has been no action taken by the government or the police departments themselves. As a result, our country is at a standstill regarding race relations and our treatment of black individuals. Every time something happens to a black male, justified or not, there are protests because the black community has no faith in their police departments handling of interracial encounters. If these issues regarding race would have been addressed long ago, there would be no need for this woman to protest and the lives of many young men would have been saved. 

In conclusion, the way in which photos are taken have the ability to portray an array of different messages. The author took this photo in a way that shows the police of Ferguson in a very negative light. He decided to take this photo at an angle that shows the police in an aggressive manner, while they approached an unarmed black protester. Although this photo had a large range of messages for its audience, the main message that the artist attempted to depict was the divide between the black communities of the United States and its police. These types of photos give the perspective of black people when they encounter the police and are being used to raise awareness regarding these types of situations.  The crisis before us that is, prejudice and police brutality toward people of color, is a long going issue that has stained the perception of the United States by many of its citizens for centuries. The discussion that for so long has been confined to black individuals in dire situations is finally being acknowledged by those who hold power in the city, state and federal levels. These types of photos have a lot to do with this newfound interest in bettering these people’s lives.