What remains of Martin Luther King’s legacy? Of his non-violent fight against racial segregation? How does the “dream” of a fraternal America declaimed 60 years ago resonate today in the ears of African-Americans and other minorities?
Bordeaux photographer Ken Wong-Youk-Hong went to ask these questions at the source, in the United States. First of all, in Selma, a small town in Alabama steeped in history, symbol of the three…
What remains of Martin Luther King’s legacy? Of his non-violent fight against racial segregation? How does the “dream” of a fraternal America declaimed 60 years ago resonate today in the ears of African-Americans and other minorities?
Bordeaux photographer Ken Wong-Youk-Hong went to ask these questions at the source, in the United States. First of all, in Selma, a small town in Alabama steeped in history, symbol of the three protest marches in defense of civil rights. He went there in November 2022, then in March 2023, before leaving to explore the sprawling neighborhoods of New York last August.
Photographer Ken Wong-Youk-Hong will lead awareness workshops in middle and high schools over four days.
Olivier Delhoumeau
Ken’s Eye – the name of his artistic project – was nourished by the spectacle of the street. Each exchange becomes a meeting. Strong testimonies, portraits of sweating humanity, including prints on large tarpaulins (2 m x 1.30 m) will adorn the walls of the Carré des Jalles hall, from November 13 to 25. Enriched with texts, the photographic exhibition (30 images) forms the backbone of the Fortnight of Equality and Diversity in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles (program on the City website).
The wandering reveals unique souls. Like this man and his daughter perched on his shoulders at the bottom of the Edmund-Pettus Bridge, the iconic Selma bridge. “On this day of commemoration, he tells me of his relief at being able to walk in peace on this road. In 1965, he was allegedly beaten up by the police of Sheriff Clark and Governor George Wallace. » Ironically, “the arched work still bears the surname of one of the disastrous great dragons of the Ku Klux Klan,” recalls the photographer.
Having left Guatemala, her country of origin, this woman realized her dream of becoming a police officer in New York, in a local service.
Ken Wong-Youk-Hong
Among the people he addresses, some have been close to great history, such as Coleman Senior, Martin Luther King’s driver during the preparation of the third march from Selma to Montgomery. Why was he chosen? “Because he was a committed student, owned a car and had a reputation for safe driving. »
Coleman Senior is also a musician. A talented saxophonist, he promises to perform “Precious Lord, take my hand” in front of the black pastor who is a fan of the song. Alas, time flies too quickly. “As he recalls this memory, Coleman Senior picks up his instrument and begins to play the tune. I triggered the image at that moment,” Ken says with the enthusiasm of a kid. The sound recording is forever engraved in his smartphone.
Through his images, the Bordeaux photographer addresses different themes such as racism, the place of women in American society or the stigmatization of sexual minorities.
Ken Wong-Youk-Hong
In New York, the photographer stayed in the neighborhood where filmmaker Spike Lee filmed “Do the Right Thing”. Here, among others, he crosses paths with Saiidi, the “man of peace” of the legendary street basketball court The Cage, not a little proud to appear in an ad for the Brooklyn Nets.
Not far away, gloved fists in front of the camera, Precious dreams of being a boxer. Having left Seattle alone “on a day without rain”, she arrived in New York “on a rainy day”. Sees a sign there. Not the right one. Because the young woman drifts, finds herself on the street, sleeping at night in crowded dormitories. Until the day she manages to get back on track. A coach who believes in her opens the ring ropes for her. “It’s not the best photo but the most intense encounter,” says Ken. Watching for enlightenment in tormented societies, he knows that 60 years after the famous “I have a dream”, the end of the road is still far away.
2023-11-13 09:11:47
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