Henry Hampton
Description
Image in the Hampton Archive of Martin Luther King holding two small girls in the Selma to Montgomery march of 1965. In the image above, Martin Luther King holds two children during the Selma to Montgomery march of 1965, their names are Sheyann Webb and Rachel Nelson West. In contrast to earlier images of college-age demonstrators, these young children have less of an organizing role, however they are as essential in framing the public perception of the movement. King&rsquos attention is directed toward the children, who appear cheerful and unaware that a photo is being taken. Both Webb and West are dressed in their white Sunday best, evoking traditional ideas of innocence. Given that Black children are often perceived to be older and less innocent than their white counterparts of the same age, this evocation of innocence is particularly significant. The photograph creates a distinction between adult protestors and their children, who have some knowledge of the movement&rsquos intent, yet lack a full grasp of its sociopolitical implications.134233117":true,"134233118"201341983":2,"335559738":360,"335559739"335559740":270}"> It is not the image of the children alone that creates a notable photograph, it is the way in which both children and King interact with each other that defines the community-centered focus of the movement. According to Rufus Burrow, Webb&rsquos parents had been involved in the meetings discussing the logistics of the Montgomery march. The image of both young children suggests that in Birmingham and other campaigns, black children and youth had been a formidable force, and Selma was no different (Burrow 246). The photographer also plays an integral role in documenting the presence of children for...
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