The visual text chosen for this assignment was Lyndon B. Johnson meets with Civil Rights Leaders Martin Luther King, Jr., Whitney Young, and James Farmer in the Oval Office. This image taken in January of 1964 really stood out among the rest. The elements illustrated in this photograph contributed to the march toward civil rights through the use of colors, symbols, and icons. 

To truly understand the significance of this photo, it is critical to clarify the history behind it. 1964 was a progressive year for the Civil Rights movement. Not long after this picture was taken, the 24th amendment abolished the poll tax which was first put into place to hinder black people's ability to vote. This meeting with the President at the time shows hope for justice and equality since the most powerful man in the nation decided to sit down and work along side the most influential Civil Rights Leaders. That same year President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in July prohibiting discrimination of all kinds based on race, color, religion or national origin and transformed American society. This law allowed the federal government to enforce desegregation and prohibit discrimination in public facilities, government and employment. The Jim Crow laws in the South were also abolished, and it became illegal to enforce segregation of race in schools, housing, or hiring. This proves how successful and effective the meeting among these activists really was. 

This photograph demonstrates the importance and desire for change and desegregation in many ways, one being the colors used. This picture is ironically shown in black and white which is ironic since the whole point of this movement is to integrate black people and white people. The Civil Rights Leaders' main goal is to bring people together, establish justice, and ensure that everyone is given the opportunity to equality. The colors used prove themselves as a metaphor representing what these activists were truly fighting for, the unity of blacks and whites.  If this picture were shown in color, the power and impact this image delivers would not be as strong. The black and white elements in this photo strengthens it's message and imitates the reason for this reform.

In this image, the setting is crucial. The meeting took place in the President's Oval Office, the official office of President Johnson. This is incredibly important because this shows how invested President Johnson was in this movement that he would invite the most influential Civil Rights Leaders to such an exclusive personal space. This is a big deal for the Civil Rights movement since it offers critical credibility and almost validates that change is happening.  They are shown in the office, casually sitting around a table with some refreshments proving that it was a lighthearted meeting among friends while still discussing pressing issues. Johnson seems to have his glasses off and is talking openly and respectfully towards Whitney Young and James Farmer, this is proven by the way Johnson is making direct eye contact, his hand is open and inviting, and his body language is focused and engaged. The Civil Rights Leaders are all being attentive and interested by what the President is saying. This meeting proved itself to be productive giving a significant amount of hope for the civil rights movement. All of these symbols contribute to the march toward civil rights which this image is obviously portraying. 

Icons are greatly pronounced in this photo and can be seen in two different ways. The first is if the word is taken from it's definition explained as "a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol of something," (dictionary.com). Martin Luther King Jr. is probably the most recognized Civil Rights Leader there is and ever will be. For him to be shown in this photo, making history, is incredibly iconic. He is a known hero for his passion and determination to end segregation. To be sitting next to the President of the United States at the time and being invited to hold a meeting in one of the most private and preferential rooms in the White House is iconic. This image is full of icons. Second, an icon can also be regarded by another definition of icon being "a sign whose form directly reflects the thing it signifies," (dictionary.com). The actual photo is an icon since it is a clear and obvious representation of the Civil Rights Movement directly emulating what it symbolizes.

Many factors contribute to the indication of Civil Rights this photo is representing. It was shown through the way the picture was in black in white, the symbolism of the setting, and the iconic features of the men in the room and the photo itself.

