The Movement: Bob Adelman and Civil Rights Era Photography, NSU Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale

Marking 50 years since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Movement: Bob Adelman and Civil Rights Era Photography showcases 100 iconic Bob Adelman’s photos, documenting the struggles of black Americans in the 1960s. Curated by Peter Boswell, the exhibit is on display at NSU Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, until 17 May and is part of the Foto Fort Lauderdale initiative.

A witness to history, Adelman’s voluntary work as a photographer for the Congress of Racial Equality, the NAACP Legal Defence Fund, and other civil rights organizations allowed him to capture the stories of the Civil Rights Movement in a way that projects both the vulnerability and passion of its activists. Adelman’s unique vantage point is in part due to his close relationships with civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and John Baldwin.

The collection depicts key events such as the Freedom Rides, voter registration drives, and the 1963 March on Washington which culminated in the historic “I have a Dream” speech. Entitled The Movement, the exhibit refers to both the fight to end segregation, and Adelman’s focus on bodies and the physical act of protest. With many of the photos never before published, this exhibition is a unique opportunity to see the Civil Rights Movements from its frontline.

Adelman has since photographed cover stories for publications such as Esquire, Time and The New York Times Magazine and has photographed, written and published over a dozen books including King: the Photobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. (2004). Despite his high-profile position as one of America’s most acclaimed photographers, Adelman still considers himself as an activist with the hope that his photojournalism will not only document history, but also bring about change.

Alongside this exhibition, NSU Museum of Art will be holding a series of special programs and events to commemorate the Civil Rights Act anniversary.

The Movement: Bob Adelman and Civil Rights Era Photography, until 17 May, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, 1 East Las Olas Boulevard, Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale. For more information visit www.moafl.org.

Credits
1. Bob Adelman, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Outside Montgomery on the Fourth Day of the March, Alabama Route 80, (1965). Courtesy of the Photographer.