#Bluff City: The Secret Life of Photographer Ernest Withers | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

jonfarreporter · 6 years ago

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The importance of a diversified press is essential in understanding the world

When this reporter was in J-school at City College of San Francisco, not too long ago, it was impressed upon me how important it was that the media have a diversity of view points.

But most importantly, that those view points be from people who are there on the ground in the midst of what is happening. I was recently reminded of this as I stumbled upon a new book called “Bluff City - The Secret Life of photographer Ernest Withers by author Preston Lauterbach.

I had never heard of Ernest Withers before. Yet I was aware of the Civil Rights movement. Withers was among the foremost photojournalists who brought news of some the most significant aspects of the Civil Rights Movement to the headlines. Among those most significant was the “I am A Man” protest which happened in Memphis over 50 years ago this coming March.

Withers was also controversial. Not simply for reporting on unpleasant topics in a time of ultra-conservatism, he worked with the FBI. It almost seems counter-intuitive, to be a journalist and be working with the FBI. In today’s mind that is clearly a conflict of interest. But turn back the clock of time to those McCarthyism-Era days and the FBI was checking into everyone and everything.

I reached out to Lauterbach to get some insight into this. And, I thought maybe it might be because Withers had been a former policeman. The award-winning author had this to say about Withers.

“Withers spoke at length about his time on the force. He felt he was set up to be kicked off. He told a few stories about how difficult it was to conduct police work with racial constraints. My gut, said Lauterbach is that the police work led indirectly to working for the Bureau. It's conjecture, but he might have seen undercover work as a sort of continuation of his police work. The Bureau knew about how he was dismissed from the force, and though they couldn't use that against him, it may have shown them something about his character.”

Another aspect that came into my mind was the fact that if someone wanted to make changes, at some point they had to work with “the system.” Like it or not, that is what the government was back then, conservative and “pro-American.”

It wasn’t until the Vietnam War and the scandal of Watergate, when people began to become openly skeptical of government.

Still, back to the importance of diversity in media. When sources all become bland, or are way too driven by commercial gain, that is when democracy suffers.

The issue of social justice is also in jeopardy when media is curtailed to reflect only one side of the population. Or, media is there only for commercial gain and little else.

It is easy to take our ‘Fourth Estate’ freedom of the press rights as granted. This is a very important freedom. But is also one that wields responsibility. The temptation to aim for the emotion or get ideas and facts all stirred up is always there. And, an honest reporter of integrity knows and understands this.

But it is also a citizen’s responsibility to be informed beyond what is published underneath the headlines.

An investigative reporter is of tremendous value to the public and sadly because of the overly commercial aspects of media, the public confuses a good reporter with shoddy media outlets.

There will always be gossip, even in print. But it takes a discerning and mature person to discern that and to sort facts from fiction.

Apart from the gripping and disturbing aspects to Withers’ photos and the ugly part of our past American history in the 20th Century; Lauterbach provides a detailed look at not only Withers and those times but at Memphis itself.

Lauterbach’s interview with NPR provides more insights.

A former Rhodes scholar, Lauterbach gives both an unflinching look at the past and one that includes a touch of ‘Southern Charm.’ After all, Memphis was the home of Elvis Presley.

Well worth the time to read and especially for those who appreciate history. And, for journalists who want to understand the importance of a dedicated profession, “Bluff City” is a book to place at the top of your required - must read list. To learn more visit Preston Lauterbach’s web site.

#Preston Lauterbach #Bluff City #Ernest Withers #Memphis #tennesee #I am a Man march #1968 #civil rights #journlism #diversity #CCSF #Martin Luther King #rhodes scholarship

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