April 8, 2014–December 19, 2014
Briscoe Center for American History, Austin, Texas
In 1965, photojournalist James “Spider” Martin (1939-2003) was the youngest freelance photographer at The Birmingham News, where he covered everything from Alabama football to country club social events. He also covered civil rights protests, and witnessing the violent treatment of peaceful protesters had a profound effect on his career, generating a rage that would fuel his photography. His images of “Bloody Sunday,” March 7, 1965, in Selma, Alabama, galvanized public opinion in support of the protesters. Martin joined the historic march from Selma to Montgomery later that month in two capacities: as a member of the media and a participant in the struggle for racial equality. This exhibit of Martin’s photographs from March 1965 joined the Briscoe Center’s extensive photojournalism holdings, which contain unparalleled resources on the history of news photography.
