Home   |   The Site   |   Blog   |   Three-Seasons   |   Q & A   |   Register   |   Map / Contact Us
posted August 6th, 2015
Meaford Film Festival hosts rare photographs of events surrounding Selma march

The screening of Selma at the Meaford International Film Festival (MIFF) will be enhanced by a rarely seen exhibition of photos taken during this pivotal period in the American civil rights movement. Lynn Ball was freelancing in the darkroom at Canadian Press Toronto in the late winter of 1965 when he heard about the upcoming third march from Selma to Montgomery. Knowing it would an historic event, the aspiring news photographer packed his gear into his car and drove to Alabama, where he took a series of astonishing photos that sat in a drawer for the next 50 years.

Ball says that some of the photos were considered too controversial or racially charged to be published at the time by American, and even Canadaian, news organizations. “AP [Associated Press] sent out the pictures and then immediately sent out a kill order on them,” he told the Kemptville Advance.

These included photographs of white demonstrators in opposition to the march – images which still have the power to shock today.

White protesters in Selma Alabama 1965

News organizations wouldn’t publish photos of white protesters in Selma, Alabama in 1965 – Photo: Lynn Ball

“These pictures [white people waving signs displaying racial slurs] weren’t picked up by anyone,” Ball told the Advance. “No one would touch them.”

Some of Ball’s film was still undeveloped in a drawer until earlier this year. The 50th anniversary of the Selma march prompted Ball to develop and organize a photo essay, which premiered in Merrickville, Ontario in March.

The exhibit, along with a recorded interview with Lynn Ball, is currently being displayed by the Emancipation Festival at the Grey Roots Museum in Owen Sound. MIFF’s special exhibit is thanks to the efforts of Blaine Courtney, Emancipation Festival Chair. MIFF will also feature an additional exhibit from the Festival and Clarksburg’s Sheffield Park Black History Museum about their efforts to preserve and explore the black experience in Grey Bruce.




  • Categories:

    • Boating
    • Events
    • Health
    • Historical Meaford
    • Meaford Businesses
    • Meaford Community Groups
    • Meaford's Great Outdoors
    • Miscellaneous
    • Music
    • Real Estate
    • Resources
  • Archives:

    • July 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
  • Click here for fast access to info on these topics

    • agriculture
    • apples
    • architecture
    • art
    • beach
    • books
    • camping
    • cider
    • classical music
    • clubs
    • country farms
    • crafts
    • cycling
    • fall colours
    • festivals
    • film
    • finances
    • fishing
    • fitness
    • folk music
    • food and drink
    • gardening
    • golf
    • golf tournaments
    • healthcare
    • hiking trails
    • horses
    • live music
    • Meaford history
    • Memorial Park
    • real estate
    • retirement
    • sailing
    • scenic tours
    • shopping
    • skiing
    • successful aging
    • The Other Big Apple
    • theatre
    • volunteering
    • weather
    • wine
    • winter sports
  • Copyright © Meaford Haven e.&o.e.   Home | The Site | Blog | Three-Seasons | Q & A | Register | Map/Contact Us | Site Map