Critical Black Memory
Use Leigh Raiford’s essay, (The attached reading) answer the questions, below. This essay is fairly long and a bit theoretical, I suggest that you first skim/spot read the first sections in order to get a sense of her aims, as well as the history of lynching images; then, focus your reading on sections III (3) – V (5). Your answers to the prompts should be 1-2 pages, single-spaced. Raiford writes of photography in relation to “the burden of memory” as well as “critical black memory.” What does she mean by the latter? Does Raiford believe that Emory Douglas, and/or Kerry James Marshall, and/or Ken Gonzales-Day provide examples of critical black memory? Explain, referring to their works as well as her argument about them. Length: 1-2 pages, single-spaced.
