Photojournalism
FAIRLIE MERCER
On Martin Luther King Day, I followed the MLK March all throughout Atlanta running between the front and back to capture the protestors in action. I experimented with different lenses and practiced photographing moving subjects.
Ebenezer Baptist Church Service
LIVING LEGACY: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s youngest child, Dr. Bernice King, reflected on her father's legacy and highlighted the importance of the continued fight for justice during the new Trump administration. "Nothing can defeat us if we stay focused on the mission," Dr. Bernice King said. She also led a moment of silence for Cornelius Taylor, a homeless man who was killed by city workers trying to clear encampments outside of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
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This year, the 47th U.S. president was inaugurated on the 40th annual celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Since September, I had been calling congressional offices for tickets so I could travel to D.C. and cover the inauguration, but while I was excited for the opportunity to cover the historic event, I was sad I wouldn't be able to cover Atlanta's MLK Day festivities.
When inclement weather moved the inauguration inside, deeming our tickets obsolete and making travel dangerous, I jumped at the chance to cover MLK Day. I attended the annual MLK Day service at Dr. King's childhood church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, where I photographed energized speakers, impassioned members of the congregation and Dr. King's reflective daughter, Bernice.
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INSPIRING SPEECHES: Every year, the King Center hosts an MLK Day service at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s childhood church, Ebenezer Baptist Church. During the three hour-long service, members of the congregation stood for particularly moving sermons. Dr. Stacie N. C. Grant, the international president and CEO of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, said the service highlighted the need for her sorority to keep fighting for equal rights. “We will continue to protect the rights, freedom, access and opportunity that our foremothers and forefathers lost their lives fighting for to make this country live up to its creed,” Davis said.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Bishop William J. Barber, II, the co-chair of Dr. King's Poor People's Campaign, reminded the audience that poverty transcends race as the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. "When it comes to poverty, if you can't pay your light bill, we're all Black in the dark and if your children don't have anything to eat, they don't growl white, their stomachs don't growl Black, they growl hungry," Barber said
Shot on Canon EOS 90D
MUSICAL GUEST: Nine-time Grammy nominated gospel singer-songwriter Natalie Grant performed her original song "My Tribute," receiving the supportive hollers and applause every time she hit a high note. Attendee Ronnie Thomas has been to the MLK Day commemoration every year since 2014 and said the musical acts were his favorite parts of the service. "Singing and praising is always bringing people closer to what [Dr. King] believed," Thomas said.
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ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE: Members of the crowd, including Civil Rights leaders, friends of the King family, current activists and Atlanta community members, attended Dr. King's commemoration to learn about his life and reflect on his lasting influence. Tori Dudley, the operations manager at the King Center, said MLK Day is an annual reminder of our country's incredible Civil Rights progress. "Days like this require us as a nation to stop and reflect, whether you're here with us at the King Center celebrating in honor of observance, or whether you're home with a cup of coffee," Dudley said.
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Martin Luther King Day March
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YOUNG ADVOCATES: Children and families marched for equality. Dr. Stacie N. C. Grant said we owe it to our children to continue the fight for justice. “The hope is in the eyes of our young people,” Grant said. “As a mother, I want to see my children’s children’s children live in the world that Dr. King dreamed of, and it is our job to stay the course and to do our work to make that happen.”
After leaving the church service, we attended the MLK Day march, where we followed protestors through the streets of Atlanta, interviewing a photographing anyone who was willing.
I got to practice photographing subjects in motion, and since the march was very long, I had time for some trial and error to work on capturing crisp, clear photos of the protestors. I also photographed children at the march with their parents and used creative angles to clearly show the children without photographing their faces.
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WORKERS UNITED: Marchers chanted "the people united will never be defeated," "we are the union, the mighty mighty union" and "no Trump, no KKK no fascist USA" while walking through downtown Atlanta to the King Center, representing the vast range of issues supported at the march. Georgia State student Anngel Lewis said she is worried about the future of the United States under a Trump presidency. “There’s still so much to be done,” Lewis said. “Dr. King talks about the triple evils of militarism, poverty and racism and I think that’s still so relevant today. It’s scary to see where the country may go.”
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Dr. King lost his life while on a trip to Memphis, Tennessee to support striking sanitation workers. Teamsters Local 728 President Matt Higdon led his union in joining the march to honor Dr. King's commitment to unions and advocate for future labor improvement. "Dr. King is an honorary member of Teamsters Local 728 here in Atlanta, Georgia and all of these brothers and sisters of mine are here to support and honor his name and to continue the fight that he championed for all Americans," Higdon said.
Jimmy Carter Feature
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On Jan. 4, on the way to the private service at the Carter Center, former President Jimmy Carter's remains were driven by the Georgia Capitol for a moment of silence. A crowd gathered to reflect on his life and impact on the Atlanta area. Sandra Jones attended the moment of silence and said Carter's passing has helped shine a light on his lifetime accomplishments. "I learned this morning that he and his wife built over 4,000 houses, and to be around some of that is amazing," Jones said.
The Jimmy Carter feature was difficult photography-wise because we weren't able to bring cameras inside the room with the wake, so I instead photographed the outside of the Carter Center, where people had left flowers and memorabilia, and the ceremony where Carter's body was driven by the Captiol.
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HISTORIC MOMENT: A crowd observes a moment of silence outside the Georgia Capitol while Former President Jimmy Carter's body is driven to the Carter Center for a private funeral service. Sabrina Wind was in town for California and decided to attend the moment of silence to be part of the historic event. "It's a tremendous honor to be here to give last respects to one of the presidents of the United States," Wind said.
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COMMUNITY TRIBUTE: Outside the Carter Center, people left flowers, American flags and peanuts, honoring President Carter's humble origins as a peanut farmer. Additionally, signs, helmets and more commemorated former Carter's humanitarian work. Bobby Agee, who met Carter while working at Manuel's Tavern, visited the Carter Center on Monday to pay his respects. “It was a solemn moment to stand there by his flag-draped casket with all the army guards standing there," Agee said. "It was pretty moving; it got me a little choked up.”
Election Photos
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PARTY TIME: The Harris campaign hosted an Election Eve celebration at Park Tavern with performers including Joy Huerta from Mexican pop duo Jesse and Joy. Harris supporter Raquell Jordan said she attended the event to be more involved in the historic election. “It’s part of history and something that I can talk to my grandkids about," Jordan said. "I’m just excited because I think it’s a turning point for America.”
During the election, I took photos at the Election Eve Party, election night watch party, and various political rallies. Events hosted by the Democratic Party used blue lights, which would shine into the camera and make photography very difficult, so there was a lot of trial and error involved with these photos.
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ALL BLUE: The crowd of Harris supporters was cast in blue lights and given signs that said “Harris Walz,” “Freedom” and “USA.” For Henri Miller, it is important to support candidates who will protect your loved ones. "I’m here because I have a 12 year old sister who I want to have autonomy over her body, and I have friends who are queer that I want to be able to marry who they love,” Miller said.
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JUMP FOR JOY: At the Democratic Party's election night watch party, supporters jumped and cheered every time a state was called for Kamala Harris. Many attendees of the party were first-time voters or campaign volunteers.
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VP NOMINEE: Vice Presidential Nominee Tim Walz spoke to supporters on Sunday to mobilize potential volunteers, using musical guests including Jon Bongiovi and Aaron Dessner to attract a large crowd. Walz highlighted his experience as a teacher and football coach and related this professional experience to his career in politics to draw support.
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Beth Feustel took the day off of canvassing to get re energized at the Tim Walz rally. While canvassing, Feustel talked with one woman about potential implications of a Trump presidency on her access to healthcare. "I'm battling breast cancer and there's so much legislation in there protecting me and my rights, so women's rights and reproductive rights and health are very important to me," Feustel said. "This woman didn't know that the Affordable Care Act is Obamacare, which Trump is determined to get rid of, and she has Obamacare, so if Trump were to get into office, he was going to do his very best to get rid of that, and that means her healthcare."