Posted on 05/09/2014 2:48:09 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
New York summers are hot. In July, Western Kentucky University senior Demetrius Freeman, from Atlanta, a New York Times intern at the time, was enflamed enough by the Trayvon Martin march and protest to make a decision without the paper’s staff being aware.
Freeman documented a Trayvon Martin march and protests in New York and created prints at reasonable prices. “Photos from the Trayvon Martin March & Protest” was on display and some were sold Tuesday in the Garrett Conference Center at WKU.
Six double-sided gallery stands feature 12 images of New Yorkers’ outcries over racial tension, vigilantism, police practices and gun laws rising from George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Fla., who shot and killed Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old black student, near his home.
“I’m sweating and dehydrated. I’m in shorts and flip-flops. It was intense, but it was grieving, a lot of grieving throughout the crowd. I just ...,” Freeman paused briefly while recalling his photo excursion. “I just wanted to get the emotion out to the world. I wanted to see how people reacted to that situation.”
As an intern at The New York Times, Freeman proved his worth by being at the right places at the right times.
Holding on to the worn leather strap of his Canon camera, Freeman was exhausted getting to different protests and marches across the city.
“The people at The New York Times didn’t know what was going on,” Freeman said. “I really wanted to tell the story and try to get it out there. You just look for moments and anything that was symbolic to the situation.”
Freeman’s junior-level photojournalism classmates Tyler Essary of Prattville, Ala., and Kreable Young of Birmingham, Ala., looked at an image of Freeman’s.
“I saw these online, too, but they look good on print,” Essary said, peering at a close-up image of New Yorker Daryl Harris holding a bag of Skittles in his mouth, the treat Martin bought the night he was killed.
Freeman approached his former minority politics professor, Saundra Curry Ardrey, department head for political science and director of WKU’s African-American Studies Department, about showcasing his photos.
“We decided to do the official independent study for him, and we developed the idea (for the show). This fits right in with the theme of the institute here of social justice and equality,” Audrey said.
“It also is an opportunity for us to showcase our African-American students and more of our student talent.”
The talent was recognized. Journalism and broadcasting professor Pam Johnson bought Freeman’s portrait of Harris for $80, with a request for Freeman’s autograph.
“This piece is going in my office.” Johnson replied. “Those walking by will know who it is from.”
Nearly 50 people – friends and acquaintances of Freeman’s – attended the show, leaving Freeman smiling and chatting about his photography.
“The thing about this protest is it was fast. It started in Union Square Park and got too big. There wasn’t a chance for a counter protest. ... It was very emotional. If there is something that speaks to you, then just don’t give up. Go for it. I could have given up in an hour. So, go after what you want,” Freeman said.
— Freeman’s work can be seen at www.demetriusfreeman.com
Justice for Trayvon!
All we have to know is that Benghazi did not evoke a fraction of the reaction that this situation did.
there was more from the president on Trayvon, and there was much more attention and hatred toward Zimmerman than on the mb.
If the stupid people in this country could step away from the tv, figure out how to feed themselves and their kids and stop their obsession with sex, we could get somewhere.
But I am sick of this.
Hot fun in the summertime.
Demetrius
Should I say more?
He should sue his momma.
I only wish he was enflamed. Enflamed means engulfed in flame or ignited and burning. Inflamed means energised, impassioned etc.
George Zimmerman’s Black Ancestry is Revealed
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2876811/posts
George Zimmerman: the black, Hispanic, Peruvian, kind-hearted non-white, not-racist poster boy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2876692/posts
George Zimmerman Has ‘Black Roots’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2876518/posts
I have no memory of these things. They never happened. George Zimmerman is a white racist. Trayvon Martin is an innocent victim. Oceania is at war with Eastasia and aligned with Eurasia. Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia and aligned with Eurasia...
We live in bizarro world now. Up is down and a thug is a victim.
And a communist is President.
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