Every single photo is a moment in history. “I think this imaging has contributed to making people feel ashamed or powerless about themselves,” said Maria Varela. “And that was for people to reflect on how strong and beautiful they were.” Through the lens of her camera, the Latina organizer Maria Varela captured the experience of blacks during the civil rights movement: “We were at the service of the local people who were the leaders of the movement,” said Varela. “We weren’t the leaders of the movement, we weren’t the top.” In 1963, Varela was invited by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee to work in Selma, Alabama. Eventually, while she was being taken to work as a secretary, she was asked to focus on voter literacy and began taking photos to educate the community. “But SNCC photographers were always on call for marches because it felt like the state police were going to whine about people with their night sticks that if they had cameras on their faces they might slack off a little, and we should all document this type of violence, “she said. Over the next few years, Varela would document many movements such as the Selma to Montgomery Marches and the March Against Fear in Mississippi. While meeting leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rep. John Lewis, she focused on the everyday people. “We didn’t need a charismatic leader to get us into the press and before the president it was our goal.” Build power from the grassroots, “she said. And in the end, Varela and her colleagues did too.” Much of our work at SNCC has been given back to the Black Community, either through film strips in my case or through posters in Danny Lyon’s case, “said Varela.” Organizing is about building relationships and the trust that goes with it. “Their relationships led she organized in 1967 with the Chicano movement in California, New Mexico, and other parts of the Southwest, and met leaders like Cesar Chavez and Reies Lopez Tijerina. “They gave me a glimpse into other kinds of things about the Chicano movement, that was mostly in California, sometimes Arizona, the work on organizing farm laborers, “she said. After decades of civil rights work, Varela said the death of George Floyd was an all too familiar scene. But she said what looked different , is the way communities organize. “We were amazed at the amount of interracial, intercultural support that came from the g all of George Floyd and other murders, “Varela said. “But we really have to get people to move from the streets to the churches.” Varela said that intercultural support, that allies are important. “Allies to me means that whoever is in the spotlight has to help share the light, and it’s two-way,” she said. For Varela, it is these transformative moments that unite us all in greater equality. “We have to get out of our bubble and we have to go into the trenches and we have to start working if we really believe we can create one.” Difference, “said said. Today, Varela is working with younger activists to advance their movement.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM –
Every single photo is a moment in history.
“I think this imaging has contributed to making people feel ashamed or powerless for who they are,” said Maria Varela. “And that was for people to reflect on how strong and beautiful they were.”
Latina organizer Maria Varela captured the experience of blacks during the civil rights movement through the lens of her camera.
“We were at the service of the local people who were the leaders of the movement,” said Varela. “We weren’t the leaders of the movement, we weren’t the top.”
In 1963, Varela was invited by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee to work in Selma, Alabama. Eventually, while she was hired as a secretary, she was asked to focus on voter literacy and began taking photos to educate the community.
“But SNCC photographers were always on the lookout for marches because you got the impression that if the state police were moaning at people with their night sticks, if there were cameras on their faces they might ease off a little, and it was us.” to document all this kind of violence, “she said.
Over the next several years, Varela documented many movements such as the Selma to Montgomery marches and the March Against Fear in Mississippi. While meeting leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rep. John Lewis, she focused on the everyday people.
“We didn’t need a charismatic leader to get us into the press, and before the president, our job was to build power from the grassroots,” she said.
And in the end, Varela and her colleagues did.
“Much of our work at SNCC has been given back to the Black Community, either through filmstrips in my case or through posters in Danny Lyon’s case,” said Varela. “Organizing is about building relationships and the trust that comes with that.”
In 1967, her relationships resulted in her organizing with the Chicano movement in California, New Mexico, and other parts of the Southwest, and meeting leaders such as Cesar Chavez and Reies Lopez Tijerina.
“They gave me a glimpse into other kinds of Chicano things that were mainly going on in California, sometimes Arizona, to organize farm labor,” she said.
After decades of civil rights work, Varela said the death of George Floyd was an all too familiar scene. But she said what looks different is the way communities organize.
“We were amazed at the amount of interracial, intercultural support that came out of all of the George Floyd and other murders,” said Varela. “But we really have to get people to move from the streets to the churches.”
Varela said that intercultural support, that allies are important.
“Ally to me means that whoever is in the spotlight has to help share the light, and it’s two-way,” she said.
For Varela, it is these transformative moments that unite us all in greater equality.
“We have to get out of our bladder and we have to get into the trenches and we have to start working if we really believe we can make a difference,” he said.
Today, Varela works with younger activists to help advance their movement.
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