Witness to History: Photography Presentation and Discussion

515 Malcolm X Blvd,New York NY 10030

03 May, 2023

Description

WITNESS to HISTORY Selma 1965 Photography of Stephen Somerstein. A presentation & discussion featuring photographs of the momentous Selma-to-Montgomery march for voting rights in January 1965 taken by a City College student journalist and photographer who traveled to join and cover the march. Today Somerstein is a retired, noted physicist whose iconic images have been widely exhibited and praised. Join us to hear from a living witness to history who chronicled the event in photography. Somerstein will be in conversation for this photography presentation with Schomburg Center's deputy director of operations and external engagement, K.C. Matthews. The 4:00 PM presentation will be in Schomburg's historic American Negro Theatre which has a seating capacity of 74. We ask that those interested in attending register here on Eventbrite. Doors will open for seating at 3:30 PM. Seating is first come first served and registered guests will be seated first. Walk-in guests may only be seated after registered guests. An exhibition of Somerstein's historic photos, Witness to History, is currently on view at City College of New York until May 14 in Lincoln Corridor (Main Exhibition) Shepard Hall , 160 Convent Avenue. From CCNY's exhibition promotion of Witness to History: The historic 1965 Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, civil rights march concerned one issue—the right to vote. Two thousand marchers set out on March 21 along Route 80, known as the “Jefferson Davis Highway.” After two failed attempts to complete the march, President Johnson dispatched federal and state troops to guard the demonstrators along the way to the state capitol, 54 miles away. By the time the marchers reached Montgomery, their number had grown to 25,000. Hearing of the events, 24-year-old City College of New York student photographer Stephen Somerstein jumped on a bus in New York City and headed to Alabama. He arrived on March 25, in time for the final march to the state capitol. With five cameras around his neck and only 15 rolls of film, Somerstein seemed to be everywhere at once documenting this pivotal moment in the civil rights movement. He captured photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other prominent activists such as Rosa Parks, James Baldwin, Bayard Rustin, John Lewis, and Joan Baez. Somerstein also took poignant portraits of his fellow demonstrators, as well as the anonymous bystanders who had gathered along the route to observe the civil action in progress. This exhibition presents 55 photographs taken by Somerstein on March 25, 1965, accompanied by his commentary on the day’s events. The exhibition was curated by Farrah Spott. PUBLIC NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER IN-PERSON | By registering for this event, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. By attending an in-person program at The New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold The New York Public Library, its Trustees, officers, agent and employees liable for any illness or injury. If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or suspect you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, please stay home. FIRST COME, FIRST SEATED | Events are free and open to all, but due to space constraints registration is requested. Registered guests are given priority check-in 15 to 30 minutes before start time. After the event starts all registered seats are released regardless of registration, so we recommend that you arrive early. GUESTS | Please note that holding seats is prohibited and there is no food or drinks allowed anywhere in the Schomburg Center. AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING |Programs are often photographed by the Schomburg Center. Attending this event indicates your consent to being filmed/photographed and your consent to the use of your image for any all purposes of the New York Public Library. PRESS | Please send all press inquiries (photo, video, interviews, audio-recording, etc) at least 24-hours before the day of the program to Leah Drayton at [email protected]. Please note that professional video recordings are prohibited without expressed consent.