The current civil rights movement is an important and, potentially, a pivotal time in our history. Just like the pandemic, racism is a troubling global issue. In Louisville, the death of Breonna Taylor, who was shot to death in her home by police on March 13, 2020, has been a flashpoint. At Bellarmine, social justice is a part of our DNA: The university opened its doors to Black students in 1950—the very same year it opened its doors to anyone at all. That was the same year that Kentucky law was amended to make interracial education legal—not required, but allowed.
In 2020, Bellarmine students, faculty and staff carried on the push for social justice. This series of photographs documents Bellarmine students who joined in peaceful protests during the week of June 1, 2020. Some of the photographs were used to illustrate a news story on the ways in which Bellarmine students were leading action for racial justice; others were shared on social media and collected in an album on the university's Flickr page. The intent was to bring awareness to these troubling and important issues and to document local history on a story that has global resonance.
From the Judges
Images told a story, and beautifully captured a moment in our world history.
