Barbara Krauthamer, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and author of Envisioning Emancipation: Black Americans and the End of Slavery, shared with Upper School students and faculty a selection of rarely seen historical photographs that examine both visual and textual depictions of African and African-American women in the 18th and 19th centuries in America.

A pioneer in conversations on the Civil War, Krauthamer explored with her audience “what freedom looks like” through the lens of this visual history. Her talk, entitled “Picturing the Past: Images of Women in the African Diaspora,” considered the ways in which pictures of women of African descent have been erased, distorted or overlooked in popular memory and academic studies of slavery and emancipation.

According to Krauthamer, abolitionists provided a counter-narrative to the use of photography as a tool for racism, one that used pictures to document possession and inferiority. Instead of images of enslaved women as the cherished objects of slaveholders, others used photos as a tool for humanization. To illustrate, Krauthamer shared an image of a pin that depicted a light-skinned hand and a dark-skinned hand clasping. This symbolism of two different races touching made a statement supporting “an embrace of solidarity,” not violence. She also suggested Frederick Douglass’ use of photography served as a tool for democracy and allowed him to take agency in determining the portrayal of his own image, thus controlling how he was represented.

Krauthamer argued the role of black people in changing the path of the Civil War to focus on freedom rooted itself in the visual image. The struggle for human rights, documented by pictures of individuals and their daily lives, changed the discourse of the war. “Owning ones own individuality through the visual media emerged during slavery with the development of photography,” Krauthamer said, adding that it remains a legacy that continues today. “The political and personal struggle of human dignity and individual rights scripted in front of the photography lens began in the 19th century, but continues today, where photography is ubiquitous.”

Krauthamer continued the discussion in a more intimate setting with Upper School students, joining a class in the afternoon. And the conversation extended to a larger audience at night: Spence parents and alumnae as well as graduates from our sister schools. Krauthamer’s talk, “Women and Slavery: The Politics of Self Liberation in the Age of the American Revolution,” resonated with many while also helping to broaden the dialogue through the sharing of multiple insights and expertise.

The powerful discourse of the day connected to current events in Ferguson, New York City and protests across the country, making Krauthamer’s presentation even more thought-provoking and relevant for all.

The Courtney Steel ’87 Visiting Author Program was established to honor and remember Courtney Steel '87 by her parents, family and friends. Through lectures, which bring a writer of national stature to the school each year, Courtney’s passion for literature, gift for writing and respect for the nuances of language continue to inspire Spence students.