The Soiling of Old Glory facts for kids
The photo The Soiling of Old Glory is a very famous picture taken by Stanley Forman in 1976. It won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize. The picture shows a white teenager, Joseph Rakes, using an American flag to attack a Black man named Ted Landsmark. Landsmark was a lawyer and worked for civil rights, which means he fought for equal rights for all people. The American flag is often called "Old Glory."
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The Famous Photo: "The Soiling of Old Glory"
This powerful photo was taken for the Boston Herald American newspaper in Boston, Massachusetts. It happened on April 5, 1976. The next day, the picture was on the front page of the Herald American. Many other newspapers across the country also showed it. Because of its importance, it won the 1977 Pulitzer Prize for Spot Photography. This award is given for outstanding news photographs.
What Happened in Boston?
The photo was taken during a time of big protests in Boston. These protests were against something called "desegregation busing." This meant that courts had ordered schools to mix students of different races by having them ride buses to different neighborhoods. The goal was to make schools more fair and equal for everyone. However, some people were very upset about these changes, leading to many protests.
The People in the Picture
The photo captures a moment between two people: Ted Landsmark and Joseph Rakes. Their stories help us understand the picture better.
Ted Landsmark's Story
Ted Landsmark was a lawyer and a civil rights activist. He worked to make sure minority contractors got fair chances in construction jobs. He was not involved in the busing protests directly. On the day the photo was taken, he was trying to get to a meeting at city hall. He was in a hurry and didn't see the group of young protesters until he was right next to them. Landsmark had already been knocked down before the famous picture was taken. He lost his glasses and had a broken nose. In the photo, it looks like another man behind Landsmark is holding him down. But this man, Jim Kelly, was actually helping Landsmark get back up. Kelly then stepped in front of Landsmark to protect him from more harm.
Joseph Rakes and the Flag
Joseph Rakes was the teenager seen swinging the flag in the photo. He was trying to hit Landsmark, but he narrowly missed. Rakes was later found guilty of assault. He carried the nickname "the flag kid" for a long time. Later in his life, he worked in construction and then in hazardous waste. He got married and had children.
Why Was This Photo Important?
The Soiling of Old Glory became a symbol of the strong feelings and conflicts during the Boston busing crisis. It showed how difficult and sometimes violent the struggle for equal rights could be. The photo made many people think about fairness, prejudice, and what the American flag truly represents. It remains a powerful image in American history.
