Polly Bond entry 2025
Category: Visual Arts / Photography
Through Her Eyes
The photograph, titled Through Her Eyes, portrays a young Black woman seated in a pew within the historic Holt Baptist Church, now a museum preserving the legacy of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. She is immersed in the legacy of the boycott and the broader civil rights movement, surrounded by artifacts and displays that document the struggles of that era. Her gaze is turned to the side, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions that seem to defy easy categorization—perhaps anger, perhaps deep reflection. The image captures her profound engagement with the weight of history, inviting viewers to contemplate the enduring impact of the movement on personal levels of a younger generation.
Goals:
- To visually convey the emotional and historical weight of the civil rights movement through the lens of personal reflection and generational connection.
- To deepen understanding of how the past informs the present and inspires the future, particularly in the context of faith and justice.
- To celebrate the power of photography in storytelling and its ability to evoke empathy, reflection, and action.
Audience:
- Members of The Episcopal Church in Delaware, New Castle Presbytery, members of the pilgrimage, and broader faith communities, particularly those engaged in justice and reconciliation efforts.
- Advocates for racial and social justice seeking visual representations.
Summary:
This photograph highlights a new generation grappling with the legacy of the civil rights movement, as embodied by a young Black pilgrim participating in the Episcopal Church in Delaware’s ecumenical civil rights pilgrimage. The Through Her Eyes photograph reflects the pilgrim deeply contemplating the legacy of the Montgomery Bus Boycott while sitting in a pew of the historic Holt Street Baptist Church (now a museum). While slightly blurred in the background, you can see some of the historical exhibits and information about the movement that surround her. The young woman’s intense gaze to the side captures the weight of history and its resonance in the modern era. The photograph powerfully aligns with the pilgrimage’s mission to honor the sacrifices of those who fought for justice and to inspire ongoing work for equity and reconciliation.