©David Butow March 15, 2022. Two of the millions of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, this woman and her son leave for Poland and a completely unpredictable future.

Written by Amanda Karmolinski
Copy Edited by Chloë Rain
Photo Edited by Yanting Chen

The Monroe Gallery of Photography in Sante Fe is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the opening of the major exhibition, “Imagine A World Without Photojournalism.” This exhibition highlights photojournalists spanning the 20th and 21st centuries, from World War II to the recent January Insurrection. These images are timeless; they showcase the constantly changing political climate- from when they were captured to today’s society. Their message speaks volumes. This display of photojournalism documents the way that events in our lifetime have an everlasting effect, leaving the viewer with the truth that “we are living history”.

©Stanley Forman: “The Soiling of Old Glory”, Boston Anti-busing protest, Boston, April, 1976

One of the most striking images from this exhibition is the photograph that was captured by Stanley J. Forman. “The Soiling of Old Glory” from the 1976 Anti-Busing protest in Boston. It is an image of a young man holding a flag, Old Glory, and attempting to strike a black man with it. This image shows the gravity of racism that was, and is still, ever present in America. How much and how little the world has changed since 1976. This photo exudes the purpose of this exhibition, to show that while these photos may depict moments of history, these moments are still relevant today.

©Nina Berman Afghan Woman with Diploma, Kabul, Afghanistan 1998

The photograph that follows is by photojournalist Sanjay Suchak. This photo is entitled “The Graduate, 2020.” This photo shows a girl in her graduation cap and gown, standing in front of The Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond, Virginia. The monument has now been covered in graffiti, following protests and riots against the monument of a man who supported slavery. This image shows the way that history ages and stays with you. It shows the way that the meaning behind this monument has changed over the course of time, that history does not have to stay the same, and that we are an evolving society. The strength behind the girl with her hand held up in a fist, presenting the idea that she, too, is fighting against what this monument stands for.

Also featured and possibly the most pressing of today’s political climate, is the photo, “Woman On A Train, 2022,” captured by David Butow. This heartbreaking image shows a woman with her young son on her lap fleeing Ukraine to Poland. The woman’s face is solemn, a teardrop present on her cheek, head leaning against the window, looking out onto the tracks. Perhaps looking at the life she is leaving behind, having to flee her home with her child in fear of war. This image yields the same message: war is still present at this moment in time. This is the history that we are living through. Barring an eerie resemblance to refugees who once had to flee from World War II, photos from that time are also showcased in this exhibit. This photo, along with the others, echo the sentiment that history is constant, whether we are looking back on it, or living through it without even knowing.