Assignment4.1.2ENG4U
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School
University of Ottawa *
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Course
4U
Subject
English
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
Pages
2
Uploaded by maxinemowete
Artist Statement by
Siphetfwesihle Mkhize
Photo essays use images to tell a story. Not only should these stories be memorable,
but they should also be intriguing, compelling, entertaining or possibly all of these. After
evaluating all of these elements, I was then able to settle on one topic for my photo
essay: Protests Over George Floyd’s passing.
The protests were sparked by the death of George Floyd, an African-American man, by
police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020. The officer's actions, which were caught
on camera, provoked anger and revived demands for police reform and to end police
brutality. Protests began in Minneapolis and extended across America, Canada, and
eventually worldwide. The protests lasted for months and ranged in magnitude and
intensity in various cities. The protests evolved throughout time to address wider issues
such as racism and institutional injustice. In some cases, the discussions about racial
justice and police reform that took place in many towns and communities resulted in
changes to the law.
I chose this protest for several reasons. First, the protests served as a potent show of
support for the Black community in the United States and globally. The protests were a
historical moment that highlighted persistent problems of racial injustice. With a photo
essay, I thought I might help preserve the stories of people who took part in the protests
or were impacted by them, as well as contribute to the documentation of history.
Second, I chose the subject to start meaningful discussions about the African-Canadian
community. My goal in posting the protest images was to inspire others to consider their
viewpoints and have thoughtful conversations about racial unfairness.
Finally, as a woman of African descent, I have had personal encounters with racism and
discrimination. As such this topic resonated with me as it mirrored some of the
challenges I have had to face in life. Once, I was the target of overt racism when a
stranger made disparaging comments about the colour of my skin. I was astonished and
infuriated by their words to me. I made the decision to rise above the negativity and
reply the individual calmly. I instead tried to educate them and dispel their beliefs. Even
though it stung at first, I felt empowered by leveraging the experience to open a
conversation and thus bring about change in the process. This is what I hope to achieve
with my photo essay. I hope that the photo essay adds to a more thorough
comprehension of how the protests and related events affected many communities. It
has been three years since the George Floyd protests. Even though Chauvin was found
guilty and given a prison sentence, there is still a great deal of work to be done to
eradicate systematic racism in our culture.
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