Photographs ground” (hatt, 2004) moreover, "he also ordered

Photographs are forms ofcommunication that can give insight into a situation, event or even just apassing moment. However, particular images have the ability to do more thanjust communicate. They can define an event, capture an emotion or evensymbolize a movement.

Due to their ability to represent a meaning beyond whatis photographed, these images are therefore referred to as “ iconic.” This isthe case for a picture that was captured in Birmingham, Alabama on May 3, 1963by photographer Bill Hudson, commonly referred to as “ Police Dog Attack inBirmingham, Alabama 1963” (Selwyn-Holmes, 2010). It became an influentialcomponent which assisted in bringing attention to the Civil Rights movement of1963. The image was originally capturedamidst a protest in Birmingham. The protest, which was referred to as the “ TheChildren’s Crusade” was initially meant to be a peaceful march organized byMartin Luther King for the Civil Rights Campaign.

However, the police chief respondedharshly to this by ordering “ firemen to turn on their hoses on demonstrators, so that the powerful jets of water knocked them to the ground” (Hatt, 2004) Moreover,” he also ordered the police to let their German Sheppard dogs loose on the terrifiedcrowds” (Hatt, 2004). Hudson was able to capture one the many moments thatportrayed police brutality against the African-Americans when “ a Germanshepherd held by a tooth-baring cop attacked a black youth” (McWhorter, 1993). Afterit was repeatedly posted on the newspapers, the picture immediately became asignificant part of the movement as it represented what the African-Americanswere fighting against.

During the time, this photo was an important tool usedto gain the attention of the public and arouse white sympathy. In addition tovisually portraying police brutality, the image assisted in nationalizing theAfrican-American freedom movement which lead to abolishing legal segregation (McWhorter, 1993). After this, even the attitudes of the public changed with “ Birmingham’s businessleaders beginning to desegregate lunch counters and fitting rooms and hiringmore African-Americans” (Siemaszko, 2012).

“ Police Dog Attack in Birmingham, Alabama1963” became iconic due to its ability to visually challenge the socialattitudes and regime of power.