Pat Ward Williams

 

Accused/Blow torch/ Padlock (1987),

magazine page, silver print, film positive, window frame, paint, and text.

Pat Ward Williams

 

The text of the work reads, "There's something going on here. I didn't see it right away. After all, you see one lynched man you've seen them all. He looks so helpless. He doesn't look lynched yet. What is that under his chin? How long has he been LOCKED to that tree? Can you be BLACK and look at this? Life magazine published this picture. Could Hitler show pictures of the Holocaust to keep the JEWS in line? WHO took this picture? Couldn't he just as easily let the man go? Did he take his camera home and then come back with a blowtorch? Where do you TORTURE someone with a blowtorch? BURN off and ear? Melt an eye? A screaming mouth. How can this photograph exist? WHO took this picture? Oh, God. Life answers --page 141--no credit. Somebody do something."

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