Lynching Photographs (Volume 2) (Defining Moments in Photography): 9780520253322: Apel, Dora, Smith, Shawn Michelle

The Lynching Photographs: A Historical and Cultural Exploration is a thought-provoking and essential book that delves into the complex and controversial history of lynching photographs in America.

Written by two esteemed scholars, Dora Apel and Shawn Michelle Smith, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of these images, their meanings, uses, and impact on popular culture and political debates. Through carefully chosen images and clear prose, the authors chart the history of lynching photographs, from their origins in the late 19th century to their continued display and controversy today.

They examine the ways in which these photographs have been used to promote and resist racial violence, and how they continue to affect our understanding of race and violence in America. With admirable courage and sensitivity, Apel and Smith help readers delve into the meaning and legacy of these difficult images, revealing how they produce a dialectic of shame and atonement.

This book is an essential read for anyone interested in American history, cultural studies, or the ongoing struggle for racial justice.