An iconic photo is often captured in a moment and brings a special meaning. On that Labor Day weekend in 1992, Photographer Todd Robertson observed and luckily shot the one with the subject of American race relations.
In the photo, a white boy, filled with curiosity, touches the shields of a black man. Despite the tension, the black man looks at him gently. It's a powerful image, illustrating the paradox of the black man protecting the right of white people to protest against him.
Todd Robertson captured a significant moment during a special event in Gainesville, Georgia. The Ku Klux Klan organized a rally in the community, aiming to revitalize its declining campaign in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Assigned as a backup photographer for The Gainesville Times, Robertson was there to document the event.
In fact, there was not much significant action or moment for Robertson to capture. Reports from the day indicated 66 KKK members surrounded by three times as many law enforcement personnel. The downtown square remained mostly empty, with approximately 100 onlookers at the periphery, primarily there to protest against the Klan.
The white supremacists who descended upon Gainesville were mostly outsiders, lacking any significant local backing. Many attendees at these Klan gatherings hailed from outside the city limits.
While reporters and the staff photographer focused on capturing images of the rally speakers and potential confrontations, Robertson opted to shadow a mother and her two young sons. Dressed in the miniature Ku Klux Klan robes and pointed hats, they offered a poignant glimpse into the dynamics of the event.
One of the boys saw his reflection in the shield of a black state trooper named Allen Campbell, so the boy touched it.The mother quickly intervened and took the toddler away, calling him "Josh". That’s why Roberson knew his name.
Although the moment passed quickly and went unnoticed by most, Robertson captured it on film. Since then, the photograph has become an iconic representation of American race relations with the postulate “No one is born racist”.
In an interview at Gainesville's State Patrol Post 6, Campbell, 61, expressed that he didn't dwell much on the irony of the situation.
He said, “I didn't even see the kid. I was just looking down to see what was bumping on my shield. And when I looked down, there was this little kid in a Klan uniform. He saw his reflection in the riot shield. He was tracing his outline. The child was oblivious to what was going on around him.”
Robertson also recalled, “He (the child) was oblivious to what was going on around him.”
Campbell also shared his annoyance at being there. "I was upset. It was supposed to be the last holiday of the summer. Instead, I found myself at a Ku Klux Klan rally in Gainesville, Ga., ensuring the rights of the Ku Klux Klan," he shared.
Campbell expressed that he would have preferred spending the Labor Day weekend enjoying the company of friends at a party.
During his 30-year tenure as a trooper, Campbell's duty was to safeguard people's rights, even if they belonged to the Winder Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
"I took an oath to uphold the laws of the state of Georgia and defend the Constitution. And the Constitution says you have a right to free speech," he said.
Following the publication of the photograph in the United States and abroad, a teacher in Japan reached out to Campbell. She asked him to write an essay for her class about the experience. Campbell said yes.
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