August
2002
Editorial:
Video: A Tool for Truth…
By Catherine Clyne
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It’s one thing to hear or read about misery—the
droning of the network news, the repetition in all the newspapers. It’s
a completely different thing to be confronted with actual proof in the
form of moving images.
Over the past few decades, activists have learned how powerful videotape
can be. It makes people stop, open their eyes, and see. More and more,
activists are learning to document atrocities and actions. When preparing
to go to a rally or protest, a camera has become one of those essentials
to throw into the backpack.
That said, it’s still an under-utilized weapon in the struggle
to get the truth out; one that activists can learn to utilize to their
advantage. It’s hard to deny images on film. It’s also something
that strikes people deeply. Video can be the most effective tool an
activist can use.
Two examples
In 1991 the world was rudely awakened to something that people had been
saying for years—that the Los Angeles Police Department was racist
and routinely brutalized citizens of color. The majority of Americans
had dismissed the accusations as anti-police bias from angry African
Americans. After all, they had no proof. But that all changed when a
bystander with a video recorder documented police officers savagely
beating a man they had stopped for speeding. The man’s name was
Rodney King; and the undeniable proof of his assault shocked people
the world over.
The Rodney King tape exposed a reality that a large percentage of Americans
face every day; a reality that was exacerbated when the police officers
were ultimately acquitted and LA exploded in outrage. Unfortunately,
last month, we saw more proof that racial profiling and police brutality
is the norm—still. A new, yet hauntingly familiar video of a 16-year
old African American boy surrounded by white cops while being arrested—his
body slammed onto a car hood, hands cuffed behind his back, with an
officer beating him in the face. Shocking images that remind us that
we still have a long way to go.
In 1984, a relatively unknown rock singer watched the evening news.
He saw images of terribly emaciated people—fragile bags of bones
with large heads, black flies crawling all over their faces. There was
an ongoing drought in war-torn Africa, and Ethiopia especially was plagued
by famine. Videotaped images portraying this hunger were aired on the
BBC. Bob Geldof happened to be watching that night, and what he witnessed
shocked him into launching the largest charity movement the world has
ever known.
First there was the song “Do They Know it’s Christmas?”
that featured a “who’s who” of popular entertainers.
The single debuted at number one on pop charts worldwide. Then there
was “Live Aid,” an ambitious musical event held in the U.S.
and England. Every pop star that could make it performed. The concerts
were broadcast live, and briefly, the world seemed unified, generously
reaching out to those most in need. I know that I camped out in front
of the TV to be a part of it, and so did millions of others, many of
whom also sent support, financial and otherwise.
It all started with a few brief film clips on the evening news and people,
like Geldof, who were moved enough by the images to take action.
Lessons Learned
What’s so instructive about these two examples is that they were
powerful enough to get the entire world to take notice and awaken to
an unsavory reality suffered by many who share this world with us. They
both compelled millions of people to take the truth to heart, and do
something about it.
True, last month’s videotaped abuse revealed the sad fact that
the racism that outraged so many people ten years ago is still experienced
by millions of Americans. In terms of world hunger, the Food Summit
that was convened in Rome earlier this summer showed how abysmal efforts
have been to eradicate hunger, and the total lack of U.S. media coverage
illustrated how unconnected Americans are to world hunger. Currently,
the UN is warning that Africa is on the brink of a famine that could
rival, if not surpass, the severity of the one in the early 80s. An
estimated 10 to 14 million people may be facing starvation over the
next few months. Must we wait for harrowing images of starving people
to hit our TV screens before we can take the time to care?
What lessons have we learned from all this?
We have learned that, ultimately, people do care. When confronted with
undeniable images of suffering, people will reach out to help. Video
packs an emotional punch that words alone cannot. Pictures can make
us feel connected to an issue or situation when talking fails to do
the trick. How could we not be moved by the images of the lone dissenter
staring down the tanks in Tiananmen Square? By the celebrations as people
joined together to topple the Berlin Wall? Or by the collapse of the
twin towers of the World Trade Center?
People really do want to do the right thing. When they feel a connection
to the problem and see a solution they can contribute to, they respond.
It’s a difficult struggle: we’ve seen, throughout history,
that deeply-rooted cancers like racism and speciesism are extraordinarily
difficult to eradicate altogether. Video can help us fight this long,
hard struggle, but in many cases that is only the beginning. It is going
to take more than moving pictures to create the compassionate world
we seek. But we have to start somewhere.
Conclusion
In this issue of Satya, we look at how some activists are using
video in various and sophisticated ways to raise consciousness. The
information and technology are out there—what we do with it is
up to us. Will the revolution be televised? Let’s make sure it
will be, and that we’ll be the ones recording it.
Catherine Clyne
