Yesterday, all of the participants in the workshop were able to sit down and listen to the inspirational, courageous, and accomplished photojournalist James Edward Bates, a USM graduate, speak to us about his Ku Klux Klan project. I don't know what I was expecting coming into the talk, but I was completely taken off guard by how effected I was emotionally and how stunned I was. As a person of color, I was thinking "I know racism. Nothing at this point will surprise me," but then Bates pressed play on his film Passing The Torch. There was a certain kind of chilling disgust that ran through my bones upon hearing the belligerant KKK leaders chant things like "Let the Klan rise to the top!" and "Thank God I'm here and thank God I have white power!" while sadistic applause rang in the background. Watching the film was very surreal. Hearing him speak was very surreal, specifically with his comment, "Before Jesus Christ lands on the Earth and world peace sets in, I don't see racism coming to an end."
But what may have been more shocking to me was how Bates was able to capture these moments by detaching himself from the evils he was witnessing. How he was able to maintain a clear mind, pure spirit, and non-prejudiced way of being despite having racist family members. Honestly, I think this has been one of my favorite parts of the workshop so far, and I think my favorite quote from him was "I would love to be the last photographer to document the Klan."
Mr. Bates, I hope you are, too.
--Kaylee Warren
But what may have been more shocking to me was how Bates was able to capture these moments by detaching himself from the evils he was witnessing. How he was able to maintain a clear mind, pure spirit, and non-prejudiced way of being despite having racist family members. Honestly, I think this has been one of my favorite parts of the workshop so far, and I think my favorite quote from him was "I would love to be the last photographer to document the Klan."
Mr. Bates, I hope you are, too.
--Kaylee Warren