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Robert Golden's best photograph: the 1976 Notting Hill carnival riots Robert Golden's best photograph: the 1976 Notting Hill carnival riots
(7 months later)
In August 1976 I was sent to cover the Notting Hill carnival for the Socialist Worker. There was the smell in the air of trouble brewing. The police had already said there was going to be a strong presence, because there had been some trouble the year before. Based on the fact – or fiction – that there were pickpockets in crowds, police in that period took a consistently heavy-handed approach to any large group of black people.In August 1976 I was sent to cover the Notting Hill carnival for the Socialist Worker. There was the smell in the air of trouble brewing. The police had already said there was going to be a strong presence, because there had been some trouble the year before. Based on the fact – or fiction – that there were pickpockets in crowds, police in that period took a consistently heavy-handed approach to any large group of black people.
I got there at 10am, before the floats started down the streets, and had a wander. It was very peaceful. There were a lot of white and black people mixing together, and no problems. The parade started at noon, going through the crowds up towards the Westway flyover. By chance I wound up there, where I saw a huge police cordon stopping people from going under the flyover for no apparent  reason.I got there at 10am, before the floats started down the streets, and had a wander. It was very peaceful. There were a lot of white and black people mixing together, and no problems. The parade started at noon, going through the crowds up towards the Westway flyover. By chance I wound up there, where I saw a huge police cordon stopping people from going under the flyover for no apparent  reason.
It was a no man's land between the police and the crowd. Then a young black guy came running from between the police and jumped on top of another black guy in the side I was on. A fight started, and it was used as the excuse for the police to charge. It was extraordinary; if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it. There were women and children, and the police moved in with their batons out, pushing, shoving and beating people. I was in the middle of it all and shot three films before getting out of there, quite shaken up.It was a no man's land between the police and the crowd. Then a young black guy came running from between the police and jumped on top of another black guy in the side I was on. A fight started, and it was used as the excuse for the police to charge. It was extraordinary; if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it. There were women and children, and the police moved in with their batons out, pushing, shoving and beating people. I was in the middle of it all and shot three films before getting out of there, quite shaken up.
I developed the films as soon as I got back. This one was the strongest because of the razor-sharp image of these two people picked out of the crowd. It is a frozen moment in the ballet of violence playing out in front of you. I know that smile on the young man's face – it's the smile of fear. He probably thought he'd done nothing wrong. But the young policeman thinks he is doing what's right.I developed the films as soon as I got back. This one was the strongest because of the razor-sharp image of these two people picked out of the crowd. It is a frozen moment in the ballet of violence playing out in front of you. I know that smile on the young man's face – it's the smile of fear. He probably thought he'd done nothing wrong. But the young policeman thinks he is doing what's right.
In reports the next day, there was no indication about what had actually happened; the riot was blamed on "troublemakers". This image tells a different story.In reports the next day, there was no indication about what had actually happened; the riot was blamed on "troublemakers". This image tells a different story.
CVCV
Born: 1945, Detroit, Michigan, US.Born: 1945, Detroit, Michigan, US.
Studied: Wayne State University; University of Michigan.Studied: Wayne State University; University of Michigan.
Influences: Edward Weston, Paul Strand and W Eugene Smith.Influences: Edward Weston, Paul Strand and W Eugene Smith.
Low point: "Not being accepted into Magnum."Low point: "Not being accepted into Magnum."
High point: "Working with young people from Srebrenica for my film Candles Against the Night."High point: "Working with young people from Srebrenica for my film Candles Against the Night."
Top tip: "Ask yourself what is important to photograph and why it is so, then do it."Top tip: "Ask yourself what is important to photograph and why it is so, then do it."
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