82 years ago, in 1935, the Farm Security Administration (FSA) made an effort during the Depression to combat American rural poverty with a photography project headed by Roy Stryker, with the goal of "Showing America to Americans." It's why photographs like Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother were made.
Even though he died in 1975, today Roy Stryker is doing it again.
Named in honor of the man who curated the collection that is now in the Library of Congress, http://RoyStryker.com was launched with the purpose of doing the same thing today that he did all those years ago--help bridge the divide that exists between Americans through photography. Re-introduce America to Americans.
Kenneth Wajda, a professional photographer in Boulder, Colorado, launched the project in July and so far it has generated interest from photographers in the U.S. and even around the world. The project has now added photographs to the collection from eight states--Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Pennsylvania and California--with the goal of having a strong collection of documentary photographs from all 50 states.
"I think we are living in a rather difficult time for a lot of people. Industries are changing at a record pace, there's a lot of fear and anxiety regarding news, jobs and the economy as automation becomes more widespread, as political parties seem vastly different, as racial hatred remains a serious problem, and a wedge between people on the left and right. Yet, if people saw each other as they really are--what does a transgender person in Arkansas look like, and maybe they don't look like the picture in my head--maybe there would be less fear and a less divided country," Kenneth Wajda said. "I think we fear what we don't know. And once we see, we can understand better who we all are, and that we mainly want the same things--safety, jobs, good schools, etc."
Mark Twain famously said, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." And this collection of photographs aims to let the viewer travel to every state to experience who they are, and what life is like for them.
"It's my intention to document America, and 'Show America to Americans', but not from the point of view that I know what she looks like. I made it out of curiosity, to see what we are, and by turning the lens on ourselves, we will have a better view and get to know who we are, strengths and weaknesses," Wajda said.
"The Charlottesville violence is a good example of extremism, but it’s not from some outside group that came to our country. It’s a part of us. Those white supremacists can’t go home because they are home. And that’s what we need to see, on film, in photographs."
"We are a land of freedom, and that includes free speech, so it’s not to prohibit any hate group from speaking–everyone is free to voice their opinion, that’s what America is about. But seeing hatred so clearly demonstrated is also something we can’t turn away from, but must be willing to look at," Wajda said.
The photographers have an additional challenge--no digital images are allowed. Kenneth was inspired by the directive by the Department of Interior last year when they put out a call to find a photographer to re-photograph the National Parks, and to do it on 4x5 large-format film, because it was a medium they could easily archive in the Library of Congress as film is physical.
The Roy Stryker project aims to use the same criteria, having photographers shoot on film, and every submission requires a photo of the negative or slide to show it originated on film.
"There is a deluge of photos on social media that doesn't show what real work, play and life in America looks like, but rather is shown by the person posting the photographs. We never see objective photographs, like hot, difficult work, people suffering with mental illness or other depression, or the ordinary day-to-day life in most Facebook posts. We see fun and smiling," said Wajda. "Vacations, too, lots of vacations."
The perception of Americans is not true to who we really are. It's even changed the perception of us to visitors from other countries, like one European commenter on the project said, "You're completely right with the 'stereotypes'. We in Germany now have a 'special' picture of the Americans -- created by media of any kind. When I was in the US, it's a complete different view and people are people, struggling with everyday life. Vice versa, some became very surprised when I told them I am German. They didn't think one could talk 'normal' with me.
You can see the progress of the project so far. There are over a hundred images so far in the collection and it's growing by the day as more photographers submit photographs.
The long-term goal is to have the photographs divided on the site by state, published into a book featuring images from every state, and to ultimately bring the negatives to the Library of Congress like those FSA images are archived.
Roy Stryker Photo Collection
Sharing a Turkey Leg
Drama on Screen
Summer BBQ
Suburban Cowboy
Colorado Motel at Night
Eclipse Watchers
Breakfast for 20-month-old
