As the past week of protests over George Floyd’s death reminded us, this is a time of very needed reckoning where each of us must come to terms with the inequality that underpins our society. Systemic and institutionalized racism exist in America and must be ended by conscious, collective action demanding change. We can begin with persistent self-examination, while pursuing continuing self-education, and relationship building that affirms dignity. We must take daily, concrete, measurable steps to make a difference. We cannot tolerate silence, signaling indifference, as a response to the systemic racism present in our nation.
ASMP believes that a new and challenging American conversation must take place on the national, local and personal levels if we are to address racism and the systems that perpetuate its effects. As a professional community we have a powerful collective voice. As visual artists, we have the means to shine light where there is darkness.
ASMP’s stance on anti-racism, that any racism of any kind among our members or colleagues in our industry will not be tolerated.
View our ASMP Member Code of Conduct
Links to useful resources in relation to racism and photography, drawing on the links curated by those who are expert in these areas, and those who are directly affected. ASMP shouldn’t be an expert on this but we can offer our platform for people who are experts to share their voices, such as our partner organizations listed below.
ASMP Celebrating Women’s History Month. Interviewed by Rana Faure, ASMP National Board of Directors Since the dawn of photography, women have blazed their own distinct, though largely unheralded, paths. Sonia Katchian, a 49-year member of ASMP, is one of these women. A resident of NYC, Tokyo, and now Chapel Hill, Sonia recently recounted her journey in photojournalism. From her stories, it seems clear that, despite the challenges, she identified the opportunities that interested her and…
Cross-posted from The New York Times Style Magazine. [By Zoë Lescase] “Frazier’s radical empathy has brought her to places whose occupants have every reason to distrust outsiders. She photographs communities gutted by unemployment, poverty, racism and environmental degradation, seeking out subjects dehumanized or ignored by the mainstream media. At 39, she sees her life’s work as an archive of humanity, one that particularly documents the courage and diversity of blue-collar workers and the consequences of…
Cross-posted from Aperture. “From Justine Kurland’s imagined runaways to Deana Lawson’s dramatic portraiture, here are essential titles by today’s leading artists. Since its founding in 1952, Aperture has elevated the voices of women artists and published important works by female photographers, including inspiring volumes by Nan Goldin, Deana Lawson, Sally Mann, and more. Now, in celebration of Women’s History Month, we’ve gathered eight essential titles by today’s leading contemporary women artists.” 8 Photobooks by Contemporary…