Spider Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James "Spider" Martin
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| Born | April 1, 1939 |
| Died | April 8, 2003 (aged 64) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Known for | Two Minute Warning |
James "Spider" Martin (born April 1, 1939 – died April 8, 2003) was an American photographer. He became famous for his pictures of the Civil Rights Movement in 1965. His photos showed important events like "Bloody Sunday" and the Selma to Montgomery marches. His work helped the world see what was happening.
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Early Life and His "Spider" Nickname
James Martin was born in Fairfield, Alabama. He was small, about 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 125 pounds. He loved to climb trees and church towers to get the best photo angles.
His nickname, "Spider," came from his school days at Hueytown High School. A reporter once described how he moved "like a spider" during a football game. This cool nickname stuck with him for life!
Capturing History: The Civil Rights Movement
As a photographer for The Birmingham News, Spider Martin was sent to cover big events. In March 1965, he took one of his most famous photos, called Two Minute Warning.
The "Two Minute Warning" Photo
This powerful photo showed Alabama state troopers ready to attack peaceful marchers. The marchers had just crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. They were starting a 54-mile march to the Alabama State Capitol. Leaders like Hosea Williams and John Lewis were leading the way. They were protesting unfair treatment and voting rules for African Americans.
Bloody Sunday and Its Impact
This attack became known as "Bloody Sunday." Spider Martin's photos, along with other media coverage, shocked the nation. They helped change the course of civil rights in the U.S.
Martin Luther King Jr. himself told Spider Martin how important his photos were. He said, "Spider, we could have marched, we could have protested forever, but if it weren't for guys like you, it would have been for nothing. The whole world saw your pictures. That's why the Voting Rights Act was passed."
Joining the March
Spider Martin later joined the third Selma to Montgomery march. He walked the entire way, taking pictures from start to finish. He even helped an exhausted minister get back on his feet during the march. He told him, "I weigh 125 pounds, my camera bag is 50 pounds, and I [am] walking backwards and shooting pictures."
Spider Martin's Photos in Magazines
Spider Martin's amazing photographs were seen by millions. They were published in many famous magazines around the world, including:
- Life
- The Saturday Evening Post
- Time
- Der Spiegel
- Stern
- Paris Match
His work helped people everywhere understand the fight for civil rights.
Exhibitions and Collections
Spider Martin's photographs are still shown in special exhibitions today. They are also kept in important collections so people can learn from them for years to come.
Where His Photos Have Been Shown
- Rotunda, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
- Agnes, Birmingham, AL.
- The Power of His Camera: Spider Martin and the Civil Rights Movement (Austin, Texas; 2014)
- Spider Martin Retrospective: Exploring the Role of Photojournalism in Influencing History, Selma, AL, 2015.
- Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, Austin, TX, 2015.
- Selma March 1965, Steven Kasher Gallery, New York, 2015.
- "The World Saw Your Pictures": Spider Martin and the Voting Rights Campaign, Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, AL, 2015.
- Selma to Montgomery: Spider Martin’s Historic Photographs, Archaeology Museum, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, 2015.
- Selma to Montgomery: March for the Right to Vote, Atlanta and other cities, 2015.
Where His Photos Are Kept
You can find Spider Martin's photos in these permanent collections:
- Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, AL
- National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C.
- Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, Austin, TX
See also
