Photograph by
Oliver, Tommy, American, born 1984
Subject of
Unidentified Woman or Women
Unidentified Man or Men
Floyd, George Perry Jr., American, 1973 - 2020
Date
May 31, 2020
Medium
digital
Dimensions
H x W: 6720 pixels × 4480 pixels
File size: 172.3 MB
Caption
Photographer Tommy Oliver is an award-winning producer and cinematographer in television and film. Best known for his 2020 documentary 40 Years a Prisoner on HBO, his docuseries Black Love (2017–2020) on OWN, and his feature film The Perfect Guy (2015), Oliver challenges audiences to question their assumptions about race, gender, and family. The film Kinyarwanda (2011), which Oliver co-produced, weaves together narratives of resilience during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. It won the Sundance Film Festival’s award for World Cinema Drama and was recognized as one of the top 10 films of 2011. This photograph is part of a broader portfolio of images taken during Black Lives Matter rallies in Los Angeles between May 31 and June 14, 2020.
Description
A digital, black-and-white image of an unidentified female protester standing in front of a police line at a Black Lives Matter protest on Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California. The image was taken by Tommy Oliver during the protests that followed the death of George Floyd. The woman is depicted at the center of the image, facing a line of two police officers who stand with their backs to the viewer. The woman is holding a white protest sign at waist level, with large text written on it that reads [Silence / IS / Betrayal[underlined] / #BLACKLIVESMATTER] with an illustration of a black power fist accented with rays. She is wearing a gingham, button-down, short sleeve shirt, dark shorts, and a black face mask. The two police officers flank the woman at the center. The police officers are wearing police protective equipment: riot helmets with face visors and tactical vests. Both officers have patches on the top center of their vests that read [POLICE]. Printed on the side of the helmet of the officer on the left is white text that reads [3926]. Printed on the back of the helmet of the officer on the right is white text that reads [3951]. Surrounding the woman at the center is a large group of protesters, many of whom are wearing face masks and other protective face coverings and carrying raised protest signs. One fully visible sign in the top right corner reads [NO JUSTICE / NO PEACE!]. On the left is a cluster of partially visible signs the read [[E?]ND POLICE / [B?]RUTALITY[underlined]], [BLACK LIVES MATTER], and [Indigenous[underlined] / [---?]]. In the foreground, are two, blurred, partially visible motorcycles. In the distant background, is a blurred, light tone building and a traffic signal.
Place captured
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Movement
Black Lives Matter
Type
digital images
digital media - born digital
Topic
Activism
Justice
Photography
Police brutality
Race relations
Resistance
U.S. History, 2001-
Urban life
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Tommy and Codie Oliver
Object number
2021.31.4
Restrictions & Rights
© Tommy Oliver
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd599fa5652-57fd-4248-8f22-b79e5b767553

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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