By Cynthia Lum
Wow, had a wonderful free morning. Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils was the only match I was really interested in and they were scheduled second match on after 1 PM. I’d been wanting to see the exhibit at the International Center for Photography, so took this opportunity to have a nice leisurely look at their current exhibit, “For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights ”
The exhibit deals with the way the media, through photography, film, and television, can influence and play a role in shaping history and culture in modern society.
As you enter, there is a film clip of celebrated African American photographer, Gordon Parks, loading film in his camera. He considered his camera his “Weapon of Choice,” an empowering tool to be used to influence social change.
In the section on black sports hero’s and how these positive images in popular magazines helped instill racial pride to a group of people who had been the subjects of discrimination, and degrading stereotypes, there is a wonderful interview with Althea Gibson from a 1957 Sports Illustrated where she appeared on the cover.
Powerful and sometime disturbing photos of the of the leaders of the civil rights movement, are stark reminders of where we were just 50 years ago.
The film clip of Malcolm X being interviewed and asked about his last name was great. There are also clips from famous entertainers, including Nat King Cole, The Supremes and a host of others.
I find this exhibit especially relevant right now when intolerance is once again rearing it’s ugly head in the USA.
Next stop was lunch under the shade of huge trees in Bryant Park, entertained by life piano music. This is truly wonderful. I love the reader’s area, where there are books, magazine, and newspapers to to peruse.
I arrived at the site, around 2 PM and prepared to shoot the Djokovic-Monfils match. Walking through the press room, still carrying visions of the civil rights movement in my head, I am reminded of the internationality of our sport. People from around the world, working together.
As I sat in the photo pit, I kept thinking how great it is to have the privilege of participating in an event with no social barriers, the only measure being how well you train, and compete. There was Monfils, a Frenchman with Caribbean heritage, playing against a Serbian, who incidentally, speaks five languages fluently.
Novak is also hosting children of the 911 victims at the Open. Coming from a war torn country himself, he wanted to reach out to these young people. He said he is not talking to them about the past he just wants to give them a special experience.
“We’re trying to enjoy. We’re young. They’re young. They’re trying to enjoy their life, and they came to tennis,” he said. “So this is the positive message. We don’t want to, you know, get back in the past. What already happened, happened. It’s life.”
A famous Serbian tennis star, giving American children a special day. This is a perfect example of how the tennis tour can and show the world that people of all completions, can help one another and make this a better place for everyone.
[nggallery id=31]