14 Questions
Who was the main organizer of the 1966 'March Against Fear' in Mississippi?
James Meredith
What was the purpose of the 1966 'March Against Fear' in Mississippi?
To encourage African-Americans to register to vote
What was unique about Varela's photography style?
She rarely took photos of famous civil rights leaders
What was the main goal of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers?
To get rights and fair payment for people who worked on farms
What event did Martin Luther King Jr. plan to draw more attention to poverty?
The Poor People's Campaign
What was a challenge historians faced when considering Varela's place in the civil rights movement?
They had trouble thinking of her place because she was a Mexican-American
What was the main goal of the civil rights movement?
To win equal rights for minority Americans
What was Maria Varela's profession?
A Mexican-American photographer
What law took away voting rights from many poorly educated people?
The literacy test law
What was Maria Varela recruited by in 1963?
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
Where did Maria Varela train to become a photographer?
New Orleans, Louisiana
What was the purpose of the photographs Maria Varela took?
To pass out to farmers and town residents
Why did Maria Varela dress in a skirt and a head scarf?
To try to remain invisible while taking photos
What happened to the SNCC's staff in Selma, Alabama?
They were arrested by the local sheriff
Study Notes
Maria Varela and the Civil Rights Movement
- Maria Varela, a Mexican-American photographer, was one of the few Latinas involved in the black civil rights movement.
- She was recruited by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1963 to work in Selma, Alabama, helping voters affected by literacy tests.
Varela's Photography Career
- Varela trained in New Orleans, Louisiana, to become a photographer, working with manual cameras and developing photos in a darkroom.
- She built her own darkroom and dressed in a skirt and head scarf to remain invisible while taking photos.
Documenting the Civil Rights Movement
- Varela photographed civil rights marches, including the 1966 "March Against Fear" in Mississippi, and captured images of Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders.
- She took photos of King, Stokely Carmichael, and Andrew Young during the march, capturing their pensive expressions.
- Varela also photographed Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, as well as meetings leading to the 1968 Poor People's Campaign.
Recognition and Legacy
- Historians previously overlooked Varela's contributions, but she is now gaining recognition, according to Professor Brian Behnken.
- Behnken notes that it has taken time for Varela to be appreciated, but she is now being recognized for her work.
Learn about Maria Varela, a Mexican-American photographer who contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. Discover her role in capturing key moments of the movement and her recognition at the National Museum of Mexican Art.
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