Five years after buying his first camera to photograph his daughter, Cornell Watson celebrated the opening of his exhibition “Tar Healing” at the National Civil Rights Museum.
“It’s really surreal and I’m very happy with it,” said Watson.
The exhibit opens January 16th and runs through March 20th at the museum in Memphis, Tennessee.
Noel Trent, the museum’s director of interpretation, collection and education, said the museum first learned of Watson’s story through national media.
“Tarred Healing reflects the complex and difficult process of racial reconciliation that goes beyond removing Confederate symbols from campuses across the country,” she said in a statement. Photos show a long road to justice.
‘DAgreement on Content and Scope‘
A lifelong Tar Heel fan, Watson will be offered an artist residency at UNC’s Sonya Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History in June 2021 to photograph locations on campus related to the university’s racial past. created an exhibit that celebrates black history.
After six months of curating the exhibit and garnering national attention, including a Washington Post feature article, the Stone Center canceled the project.
“Disagreements over content and scope” were the reasons the center cited for rejecting the project in a statement to The Daily Tar Heel last February.
Twelve days after the center first withdrew the exhibit, Watson received an email the day before the project’s scheduled start date, informing her that the exhibit would indeed premiere. The exhibition will feature all of Watson’s photographs.
The center chose to go ahead with a showcase to honor those involved in the project, according to emails. Stated.
The exhibition was eventually canceled.
Watson said the conflict with the university was the most difficult part of his exhibition journey, but he doesn’t regret having the full story featured in “Tar Healing.” , does not believe that true reconciliation is possible without considering all parts of history.
‘Stories of this kind are all over America‘
Watson faced pushback from some university leaders, but many community members and students, some of whom were featured in the project, rose up in support of his work.
“When you do things the right way and you’re connected to a community that’s creating something, they’ll stand behind you in those turbulent times,” he said. I’m so happy that the black community at The Hill supported this and that they really became part of our family.”
One of the students who assisted Watson in filming the project was Caden Hunt, a journalism student at UNC. She said the experience made her realize that photojournalism can capture more than just trauma and can help open the minds of others to new perspectives.
Hunt said the project is important because it shows that marginalized communities’ histories cannot be erased and their voices cannot be silenced.
“It’s terrifying that my ancestors built this school and that there is no recognition of it, living in a dormitory that is not shown or appreciated,” she said. “It’s scary to get into things and think, ‘Oh, this building is based on someone who doesn’t like seeing me walk down the hall.'” I think that’s it. I walk through these halls with my head held high. ”
Cornell Watson and Cayden Hunt shared behind the scenes photos honoring the Rogers Eubanks community in Fall 2021. Photo courtesy of Caden Hunt.
When filming “Tar Healing,” Watson focused on a site sacred and important to the black community of Chapel Hill, noting the similarities between the student demonstrations and the civil rights movement taking place at the time.
“This story is not just about the black community in Chapel Hill. There are stories of this kind all over America,” he said. “Everywhere in this country there is talk of environmental injustice. There is talk of systems of oppression that must be torn down. There are stories of black people achieving something.
‘Your work has the opportunity to inspire people‘
Watson’s exhibit features a replica of Silent Sam’s base, a frontal projection of the Daily Tar Heels when the project was first dropped, and more.
“My hope is that people can see themselves in their work and see all that we have achieved and can achieve despite all the barriers and oppressions we face. “It can be done,” Watson said. I hope we understand what role we play in getting rid of some of these institutions that continue to produce
Watson continues to create and tell stories about the black experience. He said photography is important because it sheds light on the truth, and that people need to keep telling these stories.
“Your work has the opportunity to inspire, change, change the way people see things, and have a positive impact on the world, and it all starts with the blink of a camera shutter,” he said. . “
Editor’s Note: Kayden Hunt is a former staff member of The Daily Tar Heel.
University@dailytarheel.com
“Tarred Healing” is a photo story by photographer Cornell Watson looking back at the black history of Chapel Hill and the UNC community.
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