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Subscribe to RSSPhotojournalist Andrew Lichtenstein is documenting sites important to America's past, with the idea that what he finds there reflects on what's important to people in the present.
Andrew Lichtenstein / Facing Change
Former coal miner James Weekly refuses to sell his land in Blair, West Virginia, to mining companies, which are seeking to strip mine the mountain he lives on to remove billions of dollars worth of coal.
Lichtenstein picked historical sites that were interesting to him, regardless of whether they were famous, infamous or obscure. “I’m not interested in George Washington crossing the Delaware,” he says. “I'm looking for events and sites that speak more to the struggle for civil rights, the largely undocumented or under-reported labor history in the U.S., and the conquest of the native people that were here.” Then he tried to make a picture of the historic site, but with the influence of the present.
"In some ways it's more interesting when you go there and you find nothing, no connection to the past," Lichtenstein says, "Like Nat Turner's cabin pond, where you go there and there's no sign, no signifier that you're in this historical place. The history was erased right after it happened, deliberately."
His visits to the historic sites raised a question: “Why is it that the sites of labor massacres across the country are little known and obscure? These are choices that we make: to make the Liberty Bell and the signing of the Declaration of Independence these giant tourist attractions. What we choose to remember and why we choose to remember it is what makes us who are."
Andrew Lichtenstein / Facing Change
Wounded Knee on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota is the site of an Indian massacre in 1890. Today the area is mired in poverty.
"If something's become a museum or memorialized, it's often too late for me. But on the other hand, if I get there and there's no indication or no connection to history, I'm also stuck. Sometimes I can see it in something discarded on the ground. But sometimes I struggle to find anything symbolic. To me it's a fascinating process and something I feel that this project can really bring out or discover.”
It also prompts a larger question for Lichtenstein: "How do we define ourselves as a society? The past is always more about the present than the past. The events we choose to interpret and talk about now are more about who we are now than who we were before.
Lichtenstein uses what some might consider a historic means to capture his images. “I knew I wanted to work in film – the first thought was to take a large-format camera to historical events. But very few events are clearly historical as they're happening – 9/11 and Obama's election are obvious. I'm looking for something that's not so obvious in the present, but becomes clear after time goes by. Some things are just chatter that goes by.”
Timothy H. O'Sullivan / Library of Congress
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Gen. George G. Meade, Assistant Secretary of War Charles A. Dana, and numerous staff officers meet in Massaponax Church, Va., on May 21, 1864.
In this age of digital everything you may wonder why Lichtenstein chooses to photograph this project on film. “There are many things I love about digital photography,” he says, “But black and white images are not one of them. I want to feel that grain.” The image above, of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and numerous staff officers, was the first photograph that really got Lichtenstein thinking about this project. “I just love the blurry movement of some of the soldiers and the horses and mules,” he says. “It’s what made me want to work in large format, which, after some trials and many errors, I realized I was not organized enough to do,” he says. He settled on using a medium-format camera instead.
“History and photography are my two great loves,” says Lichtenstein. “I wanted to do something that really drew on those connections and made them front and center.” Lichtenstein plans to cover the entire nation. He says he’s about 60 percent finished with his project and plans to do more work in the West.
Editor's note: This is the introduction to a three-part series, History through the lens of today, that we're publishing in PhotoBlog this week.
Lichtenstein continues this work with the help of a grant from The Aftermath Project.
Leave a Comment:
NO comment.
Lets have that politically correct version of history. That should make everyone feel good about themselves.
The winners always get to write the history books...
just amazing how someone like Common can take a story and instead of veiwing simply at face value they have to politicize, criticize and turn it into a negative comment
touch of narcissism perhaps?
you must be really fun to be around
Skup - "The winners always get to write the history books..."
How's your Mandarin Skup?
Is that the one where white European men weren't always right? Because, honestly, I think it may have some merit.
Wo\/ hui\ yi\dianr\/ Zhong—wen/.
Our history of savaging others in our own nation has yet to be fully told and realized.
Yes, that is true, but quit placing the blame for what my forefathers may have done on me. I did not commit any of these acts. And there is not proof that my forefathers did them, not to say that they were doing anything to change it either. Yes, lets report the true history, just stop playing the blame game as well.
Agreed
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness... Oh, excuse me, I have to go rape my slave and then sell off her children real quick, and then I will get right back to the grand old Declaration..."
"Those who who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana, Spanish-born American author and POSSIBLE illegal alien of his time...
murderers
I have no doubt MLK would have been firmly supportive of Ron Pauls vision. Sad that MSM has denied so many Americans the truth of Pauls vision. Instead they call him racist and dangerous. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Is any other candidate willing to address the racial injustices in our country?
Somehow I doubt that Dr. King would approve of the relationship between Ron Paul and Stormfront.org founder Don Black! But please, feel free to tout Ron Paul on Dr. King's birthday commemoration.
I would also urge anyone voting for Obama/Rommney take the time and learn about Iran (go to youtube) and see how they are just like us. They are a beautiful people undeserving of what we are about to do to them.
Most Americans don't want to challenge their prejudices which is why the US bullying has escalated into a blockade and terrorist hits on their scientists. Americans are largely very vain and uncurious.
Tim, we arent doing anything to the Iranian people. Their govt is doing it to them. The US didnt say, "Hey Iran threaten to close the Strate of Hormus. Oh, hey Iran develop nuclear weapons. Oh, her Iran, use extreme violence to kill your people while the protest a corrupt govt." Youre right Tim, the US is doing this to the Iranian people. Did you by chance read where twice in the last week or so, the American Navy has saved Iranian sailors from pirates? Probably not because your head is so firmly shoved up your @$$ that it didnt fall into the pick and choose articles you want to read.
I am not stupid enough to think that there isnt stuff going on in the shadows that we dont know about but the US and the world are treating Iran just like anyone else who is developing nukes. Do you want an EXTREME Islamic govt selling nukes to a group like Hezbollah? Not me. Have a great day.
Who died and appointed you god? How come you think you have a right to determine what others possess?
FYI for the young or poorl;y informed...our nation installed and then supported a brutal dictator in Iran who killed and maimed his own people but we got cheap oil...no wonder they feel they need protection from the great satan...
As a white man i have put racial divides behind me. Unfortunately we are continuously reminded of those divides when i see and hear, Colleges refer to as "A black college" and a long litany of institutions and businesses refer to as Black or Negro.
It is simply tiring.
National White college
The National White league.
United White College Fund.
National Council of White Women
The Journal of White education.
NOTICE HOW THESE DON'T JUST ROLL OF THE TONGUE.
It's as offensive as anything else.
@freedumb, evrything in America was made for whites so you will never see or hear "white college" for example its white by default.
Agreed
The thing you don't understand is that "white" is just as special as any other color. It is not a 'default' and should not be seen as such. If minorities get special schools/clubs/etc, white people should be afforded the same privilege. But noooooooo, that's racist.
If it doesn't say "Black" in front of it, you know it's for and about whites. Black institutions and programs came about as a result of being shut out and ignored by the white majority. As you might say, "get over it!"
That's a load of crap. It's about everyone if there isn't a color in front of it. That kind of lockout mentality is long gone in our society and so should these 'special' groups.
Yeah, and could someone please explain the made up Kwanzaa deal? Christmas, Hannakuh or Ramadan not good enough?
Freedumb, your name befits you!
Hate is Hate pure and simple , comes in all colors and flavors just like ice Cream. You have a choice , we all do . Either learn to see Hate and Ignorance for what it is , and put it in its place which is oout of your mind and life , Or you help to continue something that should by now be long forgotten.
and we should be taking care of all , as there is plenty to go around.
Good comment.
These struggles still continue... OWS movement highlights this current struggle.
The OWS struggle is an embarrassment to the term peaceful protest with reasonable and defined complaints.
Yes, it is totally unreasonable to demand accountability from financial companies and banks who screwed hundreds of millions of people with their deceptive and predatory practices and caused worldwide depression, only to be bailed out by US taxpayers.
I agree with the banks did manipulate as much as they could. The politicians helped them in every way they could. Term limits are neede. Vote anti-incumbent every time we vote.
I'm not sure term limits are the magic bullet. It might be the corrupt 2 party system. You only need to bet on 2 horses to win every time. US is wholly owned by international capital holders - money rules and even Supreme Court thinks money equals access to power, giving corporations right to buy power with unlimited donations to political campaigns.
Real and honest talk about race relations rarely happen and most certainly won't on this website. Minorities are their own worst enemies.
America's history was built on wiping out the opposition and subjugating the native people on the land. Why we celebrate a day like Thanksgiving when all those idiotic people were just murderers is astounding.
America just like every other country has its good and bad. Self-empower yourself instead of finding the absurd in everything America is and does. The history of the world is violent. Every country has it's bloodshed and hypocrisies. Stop hating America simply because you don't know how to play the game.
Goodness and God-Consciousness in America is, sadly, the exception today. We have glorified war, stolen natural resources from other lands, turned our backs on the global, moral issues (Rwanda, The Congo, Israel/Palestine) ,desensitized our children through mind-numbing and violent video games, and flooded the television market with reality programs about court, prison, one-upsmanship and meaningless competitions (The Bachelor, Jersey City, The Real Wives of Pick the City). These are all meaningless pursuits (the TV programs, that is). And, as sad and demoralizing as it is, our politicians and fiddling while our nation is burning. They could care less about us; and they've been brilliantly successful in pitting us against one another by amplifying our superfical differences.
What makes America different from any other nation, in my humble opinion, is our potential. We could be so much more than we are. The world no longer respects nor likes us - they fear US. As long as we remain divided along the line of class, race, political affiliation, religion, region and ethnicity, we will go the way of all the "Great Nations" that preceded us.
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire is worth reading; even if one only takes the time to review the abridged version.
And for Jodeman: If the Iranian govt is doing "it" to them, isn't our govt doing "it" to us? They lie about EVERYTHING. Nothing we hear is the truth. Nothing! And, it is my protected Constitution right and duty to speak out on this. Oh, I forgot, they took that right away. Nevermind. I'll be quite and hope that they don't come after my home, lay me off, steal my savings, refuse to lend me money even though I keep all of my earnings with them.
I dont know were all this ranting and raving is going,so i will just make one comment . The USA ,gives more money and charity to the needy ,all around the world, than all other nations COMBINED, so think about that for one moment before you put her down!!!!
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness... Oh, excuse me, I have to go rape my slave and then sell off her children real quick, and then I will get right back to the grand old Declaration..."
"Those who who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana, Spanish-born American author and POSSIBLE illegal alien of his time...