Maurice Berger–cultural historian, and columnist for the New York Times’ Race Stories–has spent his career studying and teaching racial literacy through visual literacy.
His intimate understanding of how visual culture impacts our notions of race has led him to create Race Stories, a monthly column for the New York Times that explores the ways that photography reflects the racial attitudes of our time. In his work, he hopes to provoke his readers to consider their own assumptions and prejudices, and to celebrate the contributions of photographers of color to our culture.
In this film, we explore how Maurice’s personal journey growing up as a white kid in a predominantly black and Latino neighborhood brought him to a unique understanding of the “value of white skin”; and how that in turn led him to become an ally and champion to some of the greatest black photographers of our time.
Credits
Special Thanks
Staci Pierson, James Estrin, Nona Faustine, LaToya Ruby Frazier, The Gordon Parks Foundation, The New York Times and Robert Frank.
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In 1955, shortly after Emmett Till was murdered by white supremacists in Mississippi, his grieving mother distributed to the press a gruesome photograph of his mutilated corpse. Asked why she would do this, she explained that by witnessing with their own eyes the brutality of segregation and racism, Americans would be more likely to support the cause of racial justice. “Let the world see what I’ve seen,” was her reply. The publication of the photograph inspired a generation of activists to join the civil rights movement.
The Goal
Since 1985, the International Center of Photography has recognized outstanding achievements in photography with its prestigious Infinity Awards. The awards ceremony is also ICP’s primary fundraising benefit, with its revenues assisting the center's various programs.
This year MediaStorm produced films for the following winners: Lifetime Achievement: Bruce Davidson; Applied: Alexandra Bell; Art: Samuel Fosso; Artist's Book: Dayanita Singh, Museum Bhavan; Critical Writing and Research: Maurice Berger, Race Stories column for the Lens section of the New York Times; Documentary and Photojournalism: Amber Bracken; and Emerging Photographer: Natalie Keyssar; and for Online Platform and New Media: Women Photograph.
Maurice Berger–cultural historian, and columnist for the New York Times’ Race Stories–has spent his career studying and teaching racial literacy through visual literacy. His intimate understanding of how visual culture impacts our notions of race has led him to create Race Stories, a monthly blog for the New York Times that explores the ways that photography reflects the racial attitudes of our time. In his work, he hopes to provoke his readers to consider their own assumptions and prejudices, and to celebrate the contributions of photographers of color to our culture. In this film, we explore how Maurice’s personal journey growing up as a white boy in a predominantly black and Latino neighborhood, brought him to a unique understanding of the “value of white skin”; and how that in turn led him to become an ally and champion to some of the greatest black photographers of our time.
The Challenge
Maurice’s work is largely the written word, so one of the challenges was to find a way to discuss his work in a visual way. But because the work he writes about is not his own, licensing the imagery became a significant hurdle from both a financial and logistical standpoint.
The Solution
MediaStorm producer Samia Khan worked directly with Maurice Berger and the New York Times to create relationships with the artists mentioned in the film. Through those relationships, MediaStorm was able to gain access to many of the images used in the final version of the film.
The Results
The film premiered on April 9, 2018 at the ICP Infinity Awards Gala in New York City. The film was a special feature of the evening, and a critical fundraising tool.
About The Client
This film was a collaboration with Harbers Studio and the International Center of Photography.
Harbers Studios turbocharges the efforts of charitable entrepreneurs by helping them tell their stories. Our goal is to help them articulate and share the value of the work they do so they can inspire others to help them do it. Working with some of the best filmmaking talent in the world, Harbers Studios creates compelling visual narratives that enhance the endeavors of organizations working to make the world a better place.
The International Center of Photography (ICP) is the world’s leading institution dedicated to the practice and understanding of photography and the reproduced image in all its forms. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach, ICP offers an open forum for dialogue about the role images play in our culture. Since ICP’s founding, they have presented more than 500 exhibitions and offered thousands of classes, providing instruction at every level. ICP is a center where photographers and artists, students and scholars can create and interpret the world of the image within our comprehensive educational facilities and archive.
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About the ICP Infinity Awards
Since 1985, the International Center of Photography has recognized outstanding achievements in photography with its prestigious Infinity Awards. The awards ceremony is also ICP’s primary fundraising benefit, with its revenues assisting the center's various programs.
Harbers Studios commissioned MediaStorm, on behalf of ICP, to create a short film about each of the recipients to screen at the awards ceremony and to display online. The films pay tribute to the contributions of each artist to the craft and field of photography and demonstrate ICP's commitment to them.