_t300.JPG)
(Photo from the Ernest C. Withers Trust, courtesy Decaneas Archive, via the Memphis Commercial-Appeal)
Photography has always been my favorite visual art, for one central reason: to me, it is the perfect combination of certainty and interpretation. For a Civil Rights photojournalist like Ernest C. Withers, I have to wonder if he knew how America and the world at large would interpret the very real pain, struggle and courage depicted in the images he captured. Images like this, and this.
Through Withers' lens, many of us were introduced, visually, to African-Americans' struggle for civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s -- even my generation, who saw Withers' photos of Memphis sanitation workers holding signs saying "I AM A MAN" in a history book, causing us to puff our chests out a little further that day.
In many ways, Withers -- who died in 2007 at age 85 -- was a hero to me. This morning, I am heartbroken. I find it hard to consider someone a hero when he informed on the Civil Rights leaders who considered him in their confidence, and did it for money. Ernest C. Withers was a paid informant to the F.B.I.:
From at least 1968 to 1970, Mr. Withers, who was black, provided photographs, biographical information and scheduling details to two F.B.I. agents in the bureau's Memphis domestic surveillance program, Howell Lowe and William H. Lawrence, according to numerous reports summarizing their meetings..
A clerical error appears to have allowed for Mr. Withers's identity to be divulged: In most cases in the reports, references to Mr. Withers and his informer number, ME 338-R, have been blacked out. But in several locations, the F.B.I. appears to have forgotten to hide them. The F.B.I. said Monday that it was not clear what had caused the lapse in privacy and was looking into the incident.
As you might imagine, some share my disappointment:
Civil rights leaders have responded to the revelation with a mixture of dismay, sadness and disbelief. "If this is true, then Ernie abused our friendship," said the Rev. James M. Lawson Jr., a retired minister who organized civil rights rallies throughout the South in the 1960s...
"It is an amazing betrayal," said Athan Theoharis, a historian at Marquette University who has written books about the F.B.I. "It really speaks to the degree that the F.B.I. was able to engage individuals within the civil rights movement. This man was so well trusted."
A perfect combination of certainty, and interpretation. I guess what applies to photography can also apply to history, and those we dub as our heroes.
Leave a Comment:
I know it is a cliche and an absolute understatement, but the 1960's were an immensely confusing and turbulent time throughout America.
According to his biographical information, Mr. Withers served in the Army as a photographer during World War II. Later, when he came home to Memphis he was one of the first 9 African Americans to go to work in the Memphis Police Department. He obviously cared about his country, his community and the law.
When he was able to establish his own Photography business, he was a freelance photographer with a family that included eight children - I expect it was a hard time for he and his family and included more than a few difficult choices.
As a successful African-American businessman, he would, of course have become involved in the changes in his community - both as an African-American man and as a professional photographer.
And at that time, I would think that the Civil Rights leaders of the time would have greatly valued Mr. Withers' skill as a photographer in documenting their events.
I don't know know why (or if) Mr. Withers worked with the FBI - that was a choice he made at the time. But the biographical information I've read indicates that he was a man who respected the law of the time, while doing what he could in supporting the changes that were taking place around him.
Viewing the 1960's through the lens of our knowledge now - in 2010 - creates distortions. Like looking backwards through a telescope - all you see is what is contained within that little round circle - you don't see the immense information outside that small, focused circle.
Am I disappointed? No, I see a man who worked hard to support his family, his profession, his community, his cause and the laws of his country during a time when those same laws restricted everything he did.
Yes, I know the winner always (re)writes History - but I am always saddened when we - in the present - judge past actions solely by current knowledge.
Context always matters - whether it is in a written document, the spoken word or an historic event.
Very well written. I agree 100% with you. Thank you for articulating what I could not.
Context does matter.
I agree with you as well. there is probably more to this story. The man might have been coerced or threatened and since he had a family to support, may have fallen to the pressure.
I agree, just because you are informing on a 'cause' does not mean that you are against it. I am from Memphis. There is a great of shock.
I am an attorney and I have been involved with such cases for over 30 years. What we have to remember is that the FBI (then and now) is very skilled at putting people in compromising situation where they feel they have to "snitch" in order to protect themselves. Once you snitch then the FBI will use the fear of exposure to keep you on the payroll.
They did this with the civil rights movement, the peace movement, and they are doing it now in Islamic communities.
This does not make it "right" that people have worked with the FBI against progressive movements, it only puts it in context.
Forty-five years is a long look back. Society and politics then were polarized much as they are now. I wish that Mr. Withers was still alive so that he could provide some context.
It is difficult from this one document to judge exactly how Withers became an informant and whether he even understood exactly what any information he gave to the FBI would be used and for what it would be used. I won't say he used good judgment but I wouldn't condemn the man too harshly, either.
Good point, Jayne. A well thought out opinion indeed.
I find it sweet irony that the FBI might have pay rolled some of the most compelling photographs of the Civil Rights movement; in effect furthering the cause. Though the feelings of personal betrayal are understandable, the significant relevance of Mr. Withers contribution to history by capturing and preserving the essence of the struggle for human dignity, cannot be denied.
The man had to pay the bills, cut him some slack on this.
I think the over all good his photos did is more important than who gave him his pay check.
agreed
What I see is an individual that was totally committed to his cause and his people. Yes, he was paid as an informant. The question must be and probably never will be answered, what information did he provide. Perhaps only the schedules of meetings and demonstration so that the FBI could be present to monitor activity. Perhaps personal information that could have caused serious internal strife among the members of the group. Again context is the key. His work as a photographer far outweighs any other considerations unless it resulted in the destruction of the lives or reputation of others
There it is; "could have caused serious internal strife among the members of the group." Times have changed....A RAT is a RAT! & to rat out for money yet...
Passing judgement on this kind of situation is very difficult.When you look at the 'history' of any thing or person you have to consider the politics of the time.The old adage, 'Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see' can still be applied to today's media coverage.Who is this information coming from?Can they be trusted? Why now? I reserve judgement on Mr. Withers. Ely W. expressed my sentiments beautifully.
It's disappointing, to be sure, but also a reminder that people are frail vessels with weaknesses - even the best of us. I am sure he wanted to cover the Civil Rights movement because he cared about what they were trying to do. An empty pocket, however, can compromise virtue so easily.
I'm trying, I'm really trying, but I just can't get upset about this. I remember 1968 to 1970. I don't know why Mr. Withers cooperated with the FBI, nor do I care to speculate, but I do find interesting the FBI's inability to protect its source.
Does not change the value of his photography. It is no less powerful today than it was 40 years ago.
Also, wasn't the FBI attempting to take control of all the photographs in the WPA archive? Their work was seen as a threat to national security because it showed America as being weak. Eventually the archive was moved to the library of congress for safe keeping, but initially, the FBI had access.
So now you know. It is always interesting to find out who the informers were. So go ahead and tell us. We have been curious for many years. Knowledge is power? Power too late.
Rachel: Picture this -- you're in a closed room with two white FBI agents. These men have the power to destroy your business, put you in jail, ruin your relationships with others, and generally ruin all you've worked for. Maybe they caught you with some marijuana, or maybe they got your kid in the city jail. They tell you not to worry about your job, your life, your well-being, because they're here to look out for you. But they need a little something from you. It's nothing big. They just want you to tell them when you hear about anything being planned by the rabble-rousers. That's all. "Just let me know what's going on. Be my ear to the ground." Maybe your kid's in trouble, or your nephew, or maybe they even have something on you. It doesn't matter. Its 1960. You're black. You have no friends in the law. You got agents telling you "it could go the easy way or the hard way." There's one word standing between you and freedom, between you and the door to the outside. The word is "yes," and you say it. You make the best deal you can to preserve your life and the lives of those you love. You know what law enforcement can do when they want to, because you've seen it. Maybe it makes you sick. Maybe you regret it for the rest of your life, but you do what you have to because the 1960s in America were not a time when "your kind" was appreciated.
In short, judge not. None of us will ever know the full story. And at this late date, the quality of the information can't be validated.
You paint a believable scene. He most likely provided just a bit here and there under duress, threat or fear. The fact he never spoke about it says volumes. His photographs tell us the real story of the movement and shows us the heart of the man behind the camera.
If any of this business about Ernest C. Withers is actually true, and the FBI isn't saying, there is nothing in those released documents that speaks to what is motivating informant #ME 338-R to provide information. I can tell you from personal knowledge that nearly ALL informants are "developed" through the threat of prosecution and jail. People do get paid... but that's just to keep them on the hook through the threat of exposure. People with access to the information the FBI wants do NOT come forward and volunteer it. Essentially they are somehow vulnerable and are "blackmailed" into the job. And as you can imagine, they often dance a delicate balance between what the police want, and what they can get away with supplying without actually hurting their friends.
I suggest that if any of this is true, Mr. Withers was as much a victim as anyone else in the civil rights movement. I do not believe he was a willing betrayer of faith and trust.
We don't know exactly what he did (the full file hasn't been released). We don't know why he did it (the FBI probably forced him to). Most of all, we don't know the real context, especially those of us who weren't even born yet.
I think it's premature to be heartbroken, or to reassess the man's status in history.
How about polling on each issue to determine which groups want thier informants exposed. Those informants will be released to the press by issue. The files for issues whose members do not wish to know who their informants were will be burned. They will never need to know their betrayers.
Since Saul Alinsky has been in the news so much recently, I'm pretty sure Alinsky taught that in building organizations you should always consider the opposition has an informant in your midst. The essence of organization is self-interest, rightly understood, . . . and used as a mobilizing factor.
remember mccarthy--pleeee
hoover was an obsessive enemy of martin luther king and all of the civil rights activists.
he honored gangsters and destroyed some of our greatest progressive leaders. he did nothing tp protect malcolm or martin.
a fink is a fink. his photos are great he on the other hand....
Very thoughtful responses, all.
People generally make what they believe to be a correct decision based on the information they have when the decision is made. Regardless of his motivation, he provided amazing photographs of the era. I can't evaluate his character, but as the result of his work, I hope history judges him favorably.
Without minimizing J. Edgar Hoover's vendetta against MLK, Jr., et al., the FBI in the 1960's was the law enforcement arm of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, charged with and committed to ensuring that the Civil Rights Acts were honored. In the Memphis office, which at the time covered West Tennessee and the north half of Mississippi, this included agents accompanying the brave souls who desegregated the restaurants and other public accommodations in the entire territory. In Oxford, Mississippi, agents were charged with accompanying James Meredith when he registered at the University of Mississippi, and preserving public order when pickup trucks with gun racks and confederate flags converged on the university.
There was in fact a great deal of cooperation between local civil rights leaders and FBI agents throughout the years 1960-1968. Mr. Withers’ role should be viewed in this context.