Picturing Our History

Taken from the convention floor of the
civil rights rally. The banner reads “
Protect Your Freedom… Support Civil
Rights Legislation.” In under a decade
the Civil Rights Act (of 1964) and the
Voting Rights Act were signed into law.
Photo: David McReynolds

Photographs by David McReynolds
Text by Jay Cassano

This series of previously unpublished photographs was taken by David McReynolds from1956 - 1971. They portray the people at the center of vibrant and turbulent times in movements for social justice. In many cases, these photographs also highlight the ways in which the War Resisters League has ben ahead of the curve and pushing the limits of what issues the broader Left addresses.

Just two years after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling and mere months after Autherine Lucy became the first black student to attend the University of Alabama, a massive civil rights rally was held in Madison Square Garden on May 24, 1956. McReynolds had arrived in New York City only weeks prior but was on hand at the rally, where he captured scenes of important Civil Rights Movement leaders together. In 1959, the War Resisters League presented its second annual Peace Award to A.J. Muste. Martin Luther King Jr., eight years prior to his publicly coming out against the Vietnam War, gave the award ceremony speech. In 1971 McReynolds traveled to Hanoi in then-North Vietnam, where he photographed the lives of the Vietnamese people in a way not often seen. Just two years after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling and mere months after Autherine Lucy became the first black student to attend the University of Alabama, a massive civil rights rally was held in Madison Square Garden on May 24, 1956. McReynolds had arrived in New York City only weeks prior but was on hand at the rally, where he captured scenes of important Civil Rights Movement leaders together. In 1959, the War Resisters League presented its second annual Peace Award to A.J. Muste. Martin Luther King Jr., eight years prior to his publicly coming out against the Vietnam War, gave the award ceremony speech. In 1971 McReynolds traveled to Hanoi in then-North Vietnam, where he photographed the lives of the Vietnamese people in a way not often seen.

Eleanor Roosevelt, Autherine Lucy, actress Tallulah Bankhead, and Rosa Parks. Photo: David McReynolds

Bayard Rustin (R), who served as WRL’s Executive Secretary from 1953 to 1965, greets Dr. T.R.M Howard, one of the featured speakers at the rally.
Photo: David McReynolds

Future Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Murray Kempton, Ella Baker, Bayard Rustin, Autherine Lucy. This is one of the only known photographs of Baker and Rustin togehter, the key behind-the-scenes activists of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, respectively. — Future Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Murray Kempton, Ella Baker, Bayard Rustin, Autherine Lucy. This is one of the only known photographs of Baker and Rustin together, the key behind-the-scenes activists of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, respectively. Photo: David McReynolds

Musician Josh White lights Rustin’s cigarette backstage. Photo: David McReynolds

A.J. Muste and Norman Thomas, six-time Socialist Party presidential candidate, posing with Muste’s Peace Award. Photo: David McReynolds

A candid shot of Muste and Thomas in conversation at the awards banquet. Photo: David McReynolds

Martin Luther King Jr giving the award ceremony speech. Photo: David McReynolds

In 1971 McReynolds traveled to Hanoi, North Vietnam. At the time, no tourists were allowed in the North but McReynolds went anyway and took these two photographs, among several others. The final photo echoes the infamous shot of Kim Phuc running down a street while being burned by napalm in 1972. McReynolds’ photo reminds us that even amid the horrors of war children are still able to laugh and smile. Photos: David McReynolds