Above image photographed by
myself from at The Sunday Times Magazine 50th Anniversary exhibition at Paintworks,
Bristol (Mar 23 – Apr 3 2012)
‘This image by Eve Arnold of an unnamed model was used
as a cover picture in 1969. It was seen as ground-breaking at the time, even
though the Civil Rights Movement in the US had already made great strides
towards racial equality. Other photographs, taken mainly in Harlem, and a
report by Eve Arnold addressed the slogan “black is beautiful”, which was in
widespread use at the time. It was coined by the black poet and social activist
Langston Hughes.’ - accompanying caption to image at the exhibition.
I
believe Arnold’s image truly captures black beauty and that beauty isn’t
restricted to one race. Publishing such a controversial image (at that time) in
a national newspaper was a great platform to showcase ‘other’ types of beauty
and challenged racial segregation and beauty. Who are we to say one race is
superior and more beautiful than the other?
Useful Links:
Paintworks - The Sunday Times 50th Anniversary Exhibition http://www.paintworksevents.co.uk/index.php?id=121&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=179&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=120&cHash=1580295d84
The Sunday Times 50th Anniversary Exhibition http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/magazine/article858993.ece
The model's name is Arlene Hawkins I believe.
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