Exploring the Impact of Erasing History: An Artist's Unique Take on Civil Rights Imagery

During the Civil Rights era, protest slogans like "We Shall Overcome" and "I Can't Breathe" have played a significant role in history-making movements. These rallying cries were emblazoned on banners, buttons, and used in marches and social media hashtags, becoming powerful symbols of resistance.

Houston-based artist Phillip Pyle II explores a thought-provoking concept in his photographic series "Forgotten Struggle." He presents edited pictures of Civil Rights protestors from the 1960s holding blank white signs. The absence of messaging on their posterboard placards creates an eerie negative space, abstracting the images. While still recognizable to those familiar with American history, much of the crucial context is lost in these edited photographs.

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Pyle started the series of images more than ten years ago in response to controversial changes in social studies textbooks by the Texas State Board of Education. These images will be exhibited at the upcoming FotoFest Biennial in Houston, opening on March 9th. In recent years, there has been a surge of new legislation in red states across the country, banning books and limiting discussions on race, racism, and LGBTQ+ identity in classroom curriculum. In Florida, there have even been attempts to portray certain aspects of slavery in a positive light.

Pyle explained that the purpose of his series, "Forgotten Struggle," is to highlight events that are being overlooked or intentionally omitted. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging these historical events and not allowing them to be erased from public memory.

He hopes to subvert the process of "whitewashing and erasure of history" by creating a visual metaphor in his images. This sparks more interest in what seems to be censored.

The artist recontextualizes images found online and in library books. The series will be shown in Houston this spring at the 2024 edition of the FotoFest Biennial.

The artist recontextualizes images found online and in library books. The series will be shown in Houston this spring at the 2024 edition of the FotoFest Biennial.

Phillip Pyle II

Pyle started this project as a response to the changes in textbooks by the Texas State Board of Education back in 2010. As a result, classrooms in many conservative states have turned into a place of conflict, with Houston's public school district being taken over by the state.

Pyle initially began the work in response to textbook changes made by the Texas State Board of Education in 2010. Since then, the classroom has become a battleground in many red states, and Houston’s public school district has been taken over by the state.

Steven Evans, executive director of FotoFest, praised Phillip Pyle II's work for its ability to communicate quickly and powerfully. According to Evans, Pyle's work was a perfect match for the biennial's theme "Critical Geographies," which delves into the impact of social, economic, ecological, and political forces on space, place, and communities. Evans shared these thoughts in a phone conversation.

The state’s education agency took control of Houston’s 274 public schools last year due to a single high school consistently underperforming. This move raised concerns about the state having more power over the city’s largest school district.

Many questions have been raised about the agency’s role in determining what is being taught, how it’s being taught, and how resources are being allocated in Houston. This issue is not only significant at a local level but also resonates nationally and internationally, according to Evans.

Pyle’s series was praised by FotoFest's executive director Steven Evans for its ability to communicate "quickly and powerfully." Evans personally invited the artist to participate in this year's biennial.

Phillip Pyle II creates images that go beyond commenting on disputed educational content. Some viewers may see parallels to the way false information spreads on the internet, like when users wrongly credit an image, remove crucial details, or use artificial intelligence to fabricate a picture. These images may also remind people of blank-sign meme templates, which can be constantly refreshed to reflect current online conversations.

Viewing images can provide valuable insights into historical events, allowing people to connect the past with the present, discover hidden details, or inspire further research on the subject.

Artist Pyle believes that a bit of ambiguity is important, especially in a world dominated by social media where everything is often presented in a straightforward and rigid manner. He emphasizes the importance of viewers interpreting and figuring out the meaning behind the images for themselves.

“(I want) to talk about history in a way that’s not beating you over the head with history,” he added.

Paul Pfeiffer/Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York

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At FotoFest, you will see some of Pyle's works printed large and mounted on the wall. Others will be showcased in vitrines, glass display cases commonly used for historical documents and artifacts in museums. Pyle also considers how his images will be viewed online and in the future.

He expressed his desire to create something that becomes popular on the internet. He envisions someone stumbling upon it in the future and wondering about its significance. He hopes that his work, including what is missing from it, will spark curiosity for generations to come.

Editor's P/S:

The article delves into the thought-provoking photographic series "Forgotten Struggle" by Houston-based artist Phillip Pyle II. Through edited images of Civil Rights protestors holding blank white signs, Pyle highlights the erasure of history and the importance of preserving historical events. His work serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of whitewashing and omission, especially in the context of recent attempts to limit discussions on race and LGBTQ+ identity in classrooms.

Pyle's images also resonate with the prevalence of false information and blank-sign memes in today's digital age. They challenge viewers to question the authenticity and completeness of information, encouraging independent interpretation and further research. By presenting his work in both large-scale prints and vitrines, Pyle invites viewers to engage with his images on multiple levels, fostering a deeper understanding of the past and its relevance to the present. call to action to challenge the erasure of marginalized voices and to ensure that future generations have a full and accurate understanding of the past.