This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/lens/builder-levy-justice-equality-new-york-streets.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Striving for Justice and Equality With a Camera on New York's Streets Striving for Justice and Equality With a Camera on New York's Streets
(3 days later)
Builder Levy taught in the New York City public school system for 34 years. Most of that time he spent working in black and Hispanic neighborhoods, where he encountered rich cultures and warm family life. But that was not how those neighborhoods were portrayed in most of the published images he saw — so he photographed them himself when he was not at work.Builder Levy taught in the New York City public school system for 34 years. Most of that time he spent working in black and Hispanic neighborhoods, where he encountered rich cultures and warm family life. But that was not how those neighborhoods were portrayed in most of the published images he saw — so he photographed them himself when he was not at work.
“I looked at my photographs as a counter to the racist depictions the mass media had of the very students I was teaching,” he said.“I looked at my photographs as a counter to the racist depictions the mass media had of the very students I was teaching,” he said.
Though he rarely photographed professionally, his images of the New York neighborhoods where he worked and lived are now collected widely by various institutions, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the International Center of Photography and the Museum of the City of New York. Along with some of his images of political protests from 1962 though the late 1980s, they are compiled in a new, somewhat autobiographical book, “Builder Levy: Humanity in the Streets,” published by Damiani.Though he rarely photographed professionally, his images of the New York neighborhoods where he worked and lived are now collected widely by various institutions, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the International Center of Photography and the Museum of the City of New York. Along with some of his images of political protests from 1962 though the late 1980s, they are compiled in a new, somewhat autobiographical book, “Builder Levy: Humanity in the Streets,” published by Damiani.
For as long as he can remember, Mr. Levy wanted to help make a “more socially and economically just world,” he said. Weaned on the progressive ideals of his parents, who were steeped in leftist politics during the McCarthy era, he became an activist as a teenager. As a student at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, he circulated a petition in 1957 calling for school desegregation and joined a civil rights march on Washington.For as long as he can remember, Mr. Levy wanted to help make a “more socially and economically just world,” he said. Weaned on the progressive ideals of his parents, who were steeped in leftist politics during the McCarthy era, he became an activist as a teenager. As a student at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, he circulated a petition in 1957 calling for school desegregation and joined a civil rights march on Washington.
Later, after taking a photography class while studying art at Brooklyn College, Mr. Levy started bringing a camera along as he and his friends protested and picketed over both national and local issues. Some of his images from a protest of de facto school segregation in New York were published in Freedom Ways magazine, a leading African-American political and cultural periodical. Later, after taking a photography class while studying art at Brooklyn College, Mr. Levy started bringing a camera along as he and his friends protested and picketed over both national and local issues. Some of his images from a protest of de facto school segregation in New York were published in Freedomways magazine, a leading African-American political and cultural periodical.
Even as his life changed, Mr. Levy would always pursue photography in his spare time. After starting his career as a teacher, he continued to document protests, and photographed coal miners in Appalachia during summer vacations between 1968 to 2009. He also set up photography workshops with teenagers in the Lower East Side, Bushwick and Ocean Hill-Brownsville, asking his students to photograph in their neighborhoods and in their homes.Even as his life changed, Mr. Levy would always pursue photography in his spare time. After starting his career as a teacher, he continued to document protests, and photographed coal miners in Appalachia during summer vacations between 1968 to 2009. He also set up photography workshops with teenagers in the Lower East Side, Bushwick and Ocean Hill-Brownsville, asking his students to photograph in their neighborhoods and in their homes.
After his retirement in 2000, he continued photographing those neighborhoods as a “partisan participant” intent on helping to change the world, he said. After his retirement in 2000, he returned to photographing protest marches and demonstrations as a “partisan participant” intent on helping to change the world, he said.
“I lived a relatively tame and self-contained life,” Mr. Levy, 75, said. “But with photography I was able to live a more intense and fulfilling life. Through my photography I am trying to change the consciousness of the world. I believe real change comes from the bottom up.”“I lived a relatively tame and self-contained life,” Mr. Levy, 75, said. “But with photography I was able to live a more intense and fulfilling life. Through my photography I am trying to change the consciousness of the world. I believe real change comes from the bottom up.”
Follow @nytimesphoto on Twitter. You can also find Lens on Facebook and Instagram.Follow @nytimesphoto on Twitter. You can also find Lens on Facebook and Instagram.