Do you recognise this historic photograph?

[Gabriel M.A.]

Judging by the responses, the older you get, the more you can see history is not something that is taught as it was before. You know, that's not a marketable skill.

Before you slam me, I'm not knocking on those who don't know what jmilkins' photograph is or what it what about, where it was, when, or why. The fault lies on those who have eroded education and history as heritage, watering it down to soundbites and with political-correctness. That is one of the things that makes a country insular, and erodes its democracy: an uninformed public.

The protest pictured above would have been impossible in today's current climate.

Yes, I recognize it. Yes, pictures can engender more than a thousand words.

 

[steve garza]

One of my all time favorites....

One of my all time favorites....

In my eye, this image more defines the moment than the moment defining image as it is a true case of being taken at the decisive moment. It defined a career and it the picture of a great champion that is perhaps more recognized in the sports world than any other.

Exhibits all the savagery we expect from fisticuffs.

 

[varjag]

I agree with some others this shot is fairly obscure as far as worldwide recognition goes. I recognized it, but only because I had a chance to read through LIFE photographers antology at some point.

 

[Pherdinand]

I don't recognize it and it does not tell me anything, not even with the attached text.
Just different backgrounds, I guess.

 

[RayPA]

Yes, I remember and recognize this image. I am old enough to remember the event, those times and what the gesture means/meant. It is instantly recognizable to me and instantly recalls an era. It carries with it a decade worth of passion and struggles--easily more than a thousand words and I would rank it right up there with the moon landing image. "Those were different times."

IIRC, both men were stripped of their metals for this display.

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[RayPA]

In my eye, this image more defines the moment than the moment defining image as it is a true case of being taken at the decisive moment. It defined a career and it the picture of a great champion that is perhaps more recognized in the sports world than any other.

IIRC, that's Sonny Liston on the mat (?). Anyway, for a great read check out Nick Toches (sp?) biography on Sonny Liston. Again, IIRC, he casts some doubt on the outcome of the Clay/Liston fight, but makes an distinction between the two fighters and what each represented to the Americans (black and white) at the time. IMO, this image is similar to the one that started this thread, and repesents more than a depiction of the savage nature of boxing. It is very much wrapped-up in the time. Mostly because of Ali and what he became and came to represent.

.

 

[Olsen]

- There is still Black Panther members in jail today. - Of the many political prisoners in USA. - That's what I think when seeing this picture again. (Don't blame me for bringing up this political issue!)

 

[fgianni]

The image itself has to be seen in context, it was 1968, Martin Luther King was assassinated in april, and Robert Kennedy in June if I remeber well, at the time it looked as if human rights were under siege in America.

 

[jonasv]

Judging by the responses, the older you get, the more you can see history is not something that is taught as it was before. You know, that's not a marketable skill.

Before you slam me, I'm not knocking on those who don't know what jmilkins' photograph is or what it what about, where it was, when, or why. The fault lies on those who have eroded education and history as heritage, watering it down to soundbites and with political-correctness. That is one of the things that makes a country insular, and erodes its democracy: an uninformed public.

US history does NOT equal world history. Not knowing details of US history is irrelevant if you live anywhere outside the US.

How many pictures referring to Belgian colonial history would you recognise?

 

[3js]

Yes he's Australian, and the time he ran the 200m (20.06) is still an Australian record. His time also would have won him the 200m gold medal at every subsequent Olympics until 1984.

.

Well, again , this is not true. The great Valerij Borzov won the 200 in 1972, and the time was 20.00, electric timing as in 1968... And it was made in the sealevel, not in high altitude.

 

[Pherdinand]

I never understood how assassinating a person (or two, or three...several) might mean the human rights are under siege.
When a certain group of people correlated by some detail in their life, like skin colour, religion, political thinking or whatever, are forbidden to do stuff, that's when we speak about human rights. Otherwise it's about plain simple criminality, or mass murder/genocide/terrorism if many people are involved but picked more or less randomly.

 

[Pherdinand]

US history does NOT equal world history. Not knowing details of US history is irrelevant if you live anywhere outside the US.

How many pictures referring to Belgian colonial history would you recognise?

Well jvx, i would recognize the shot of the local guy stealing the royal ***** (was it a *****?) from the car when the belgians gave up Congo officially... that's a funny one! i guess it was not so funny for the poor guy,though.

 

[Pherdinand]

why is s-p-a-d-e a bad word?

 

[jonasv]

Well jvx, i would recognize the shot of the local guy stealing the royal ***** (was it a *****?) from the car when the belgians gave up Congo officially... that's a funny one! i guess it was not so funny for the poor guy,though.

And I thought we managed to keep that photo secret!

It was a, ahum, sierzwaard, I believe.

 

[Pherdinand]

🙂 come on, it even shows up int eh"world's most famous photo icons" book of taschen! (that's where I know the story from)

 

[jonasv]

I know, I know! 😉

Come to think of it I can really recommend that particular book as well as Taschen's Photo Icons. If you want more pictures and less text Century from Phaidon is excellent - the 20th century and all it's most important moments visualised in over 1000 iconic images. Mini format, cheap and fun to look through: https://www.phaidon.com/phaidon/displayproduct.asp?id=1414

Gave a copy to a friend recently, thought that was a fitting present coming from an aspiring photog/historian.

 

[micromontenegro]

http://ivizlab.sfu.ca/arya/Gallery/Photos/

In that single link I count 15 pics that I would rate as more "instantly recognisable" that the one we're discussing. Wonder where and when that poll was made.

 

[oftheherd]

Cropped out? Very interesting!

It was Peter that suggested that the Tommie Smith and John Carlos wear one glove each when they only had one pair. He wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge in support.

Yes he's Australian, and the time he ran the 200m (20.06) is still an Australian record. His time also would have won him the 200m gold medal at every subsequent Olympics until 1984.

Sadly Peter did indeed pass away on Tuesday after a heart attack. Peter was my uncle, and I'm very much looking forward to meeting the 2 men he shared the podium with at his funeral in a few days.

What a small world! Sorry for your loss.

 

[fgianni]

I never understood how assassinating a person (or two, or three...several) might mean the human rights are under siege.
When a certain group of people correlated by some detail in their life, like skin colour, religion, political thinking or whatever, are forbidden to do stuff, that's when we speak about human rights. Otherwise it's about plain simple criminality, or mass murder/genocide/terrorism if many people are involved but picked more or less randomly.

Ia all depends who you are taking about, if the persons being assassinated are well known for their actions in promoting human rights, interpreting their assassination as an attack on what they did stand for is not totally unreasonable.

 

[VinceC]

People can be murdered for who they are. They can be assassinated for what they stand for.