Comment Gallery
For Sale: Solidarity
Something inside me cheered (and still cheers) fiercely for this South African woman on the side of the road every time we would pass her on the freeway in Johannesburg. I’m not sure what exactly, but something like admiration for her courage, gentleness, determination, sense of humour. The purity in her small act of civil disobedience makes me wish my solidarity with her was as tangible as purchasing her mangoes and not simply snapping her photograph.
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Sophia
September 27th, 2010
12:18am
@Chas – You’re right, that kind of photo would definitely be unfortunate…
When I first took it, I was happy to capture something so ironic but also beautiful. But don’t you think there’s a lot more going on in this situation than one woman stubbornly and recklessly breaking the law? Don’t you think there are some questions to be asked? Like, why she’s willing to risk her safety? Why does this have to be the best way for her get to get attention? Does her government care enough about her to help her business earn her and her family a living? Does her society see her as anything more than a nuisance or a hazard? Shouldn’t we?
Chas
September 18th, 2010
9:26pm
Remember this enthusiasm when a future photo shows the horrific fatal auto crash caused by this person.