“Ferguson Uncensored”, many of the photos share a similar message. The message from these photos appear to say that we are in a state of emergency as we unravel as a nation. The images that are depicted in these photos have a deep, meaningful, and disheartening message. Most of the ideas are explained in one photo, the photo of the protestor wearing the white gas mask.  This photo shows the hidden fears within our society towards the African American community, police officers, and the political establishment. 

      The photo entitled “Protected” shows the African American wearing the white mask in which it depicts the ongoing battle that many minorities face in America.  The white mask which is used as a gas mask to shield the protestor from tear gas gives an image of fear, sadness, inequality and racism. The individual in the photo also has to shield and protect him or herself in our society because they are often misunderstood and feared which causes the mental, emotional, and physical divide. The mask hides how minorities view the way society treats and sees them.  Society sometimes overlooks the rights of African Americans as well as the brutality and discriminatory practices that they face.  The masked individual in the picture depicts some of these unfair practices. 

     The white mask can also be seen as a visual text that represents a society where a predominantly white police force tries to hide the rights of minorities. The first amendment allows for peaceful assembly, but officers in Ferguson infringed upon the rights of the people. Many protestors were arrested for protesting. The press was not allowed to work freely during this civil unrest nor were they allowed to report the situation as it unfolded. The police kept them at bay and used their authority to keep them in their place. They were not allowed to do their jobs as journalist and work freely as the first amendment states. What are they hiding? Or as Dickinson states:

They are also punishing the journalists that seek to document the events on the ground. (174)

What is it that the cops in Ferguson don’t want you to see? (174)

     As the individual in the picture stares into the camera, fear is evident as well as uncertainty. The one eye that is seen looking through the mask looks afraid. Afraid of what could be unveiled if the mask is removed and knowing that he could be a victim at the hands of the police because he wants to be seen as a person with rights. Dickinson’s written text has a clear purpose in the photo. The eruption of emotions is evident in the background. One lonely individual on a street with another African American in the background unprotected as well as exposed to the anger, fear, and the hostility in the African American community. A group of people that have been left to react to the unfair and mistreatment are now the focus of the very authority that neglected their rights (174).

     The police act as if they are unaware of the role that they have played in the events in the picture. They do not understand that they have contributed to the volcano of emotions that have erupted in the African American community. Their actions have also contributed to the response of the community. The community’s response is an outcry for freedom, visibility, fair treatment, and a movement that allows them to be seen as well as heard. In “Ferguson Uncensored”, the photo of the individual wearing the white demands that the community be seen, heard, helped, as well as fight. It demands that the authority figures see that there is a problem when a group of people in a country are refused equal rights. As they look for solutions to the problems of injustice, another photo emerges. The community’s outrage started a crusade that lead to “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” (173).

     “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” is the people’s way of answering the demand to be seen and heard. It gave the people of Ferguson a reason to pull together and demand fair treatment. They united in an effort to fight against the unfair treatment from police and racial discrimination against African Americans. One photo from the movement clearly shows how the police tend to abuse their authority. A picture of an individual participating in the protest with his hands up while assault weapons are aimed at his head. This photo clearly shows how African Americans tend to believe that the police react excessively.  The individual stands exposed, alone, and afraid which is also revealed in the photo of the individual wearing the gas mask. As they attempt to protest peaceably, their rights are ignored by the group in charge of protecting those rights:

Unarmed protestors decrying the death of an unarmed black teenager havebeen ordered to shut up and stand down by white officers targeting them through the scopes of sniper rifles. (Dickinson 173-74).

   The emotions that are released when looking at these images are an overwhelming mixture of fear, anger, sadness, frustration, and perplexed. The most overwhelming emotion when viewing these images is sadness. The shooting of an unarmed teenager, unleashing tear gas and assault weapons pointed at unarmed citizens is heartbreaking. The photos displayed by Dickinson in “Ferguson Uncensored” are filled with an enormous amount of sadness and should appeal to the hearts of all citizens.

     Many could argue that the police have a job that is very dangerous. They are in constant danger whenever they are in the field and have a tremendous amount of responsibility. Many will say that they are just doing their jobs and the photos are misrepresenting the officers. They see civil unrest and believe that the pictures show the police trying to control the situation. Dickinson’s photos depict the very core of what is happening in our communities. The people are tired of being victimized and ill-treated. Some of these photos are of protestors and some are just citizens that were going about their day, many assume that all African Americans in the photos were a part of the demonstration. Instead of the photos showing a country that has equal and fair treatment for everyone, it shows a country that fears, punishes, and attacks citizens that are trying to be heard.
