John Edwin Mason: Documentary, Motorsports, Photo History

A Brief History of African Stereotypes, Part 1: Broken, Helpless Africa

Everything you know about Africa is wrong. No, no, not you in particular. I'm thinking about a more general "you" -- the American "you," the Western "you," and even the 18- to 22-year-old "you" who enrolls in my introductory African history classes. When I allow myself to think about it,... Read more →

Look 3, the Festival of the Photograph: Afterthoughts, Part 2, James Nachtwey and George Steinmetz

N.B.: I've updated this post with a new final paragraph. Hang out with African artists or activists long enough and sooner or later the conversation will turn to the ways in which Africa is represented in the western media. The last time that I had this conversation was with the... Read more →