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Writer and photographer embark on a journey resulting in a landmark image

Written By Josie Gulliksen
July 22, 2020 at 7:56 PM

Photo by Carl Juste/Miami Herald Staff

Four simple words, “I Am A Man,” displayed at North Miami’s MOCA Plaza in what seems like a non-descript black and white photograph of two African American men, one holding a sign depicting those words.

The sign displaying those words was what the sanitation workers carried during their 65-day strike in Memphis, TN in 1968, in response to on-the-job safety concerns after two workers were crushed to death in the barrel of a sanitation truck.

Depicted in the image is Elmore Nickelberry, who was part of the strike in 1968, and his son Terence, who is also with the City of Memphis sanitation department.

Arriving at that image was no simple task for The Miami Herald veteran journalists, photographer Carl Juste and columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr. It took more than a decade to bring the project to life.

In 2008, when they realized Barack Obama would most likely be the presidential nominee, “we thought if he got elected, it would show how far African Americans had come as opposed to 40 years ago,” said Pitts, Jr. referring to the 40th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s. assassination and the sanitation workers strike. Dr. King was assassinated the day after he spoke to the Memphis sanitation workers.

For Carl, it was all about timing and wanting to capture the importance of the moment in 2008 when Obama was elected president.

“In 2008 my wife was pregnant, and it was right in the middle of the election cycle. I was talking to my parents and I told them ‘a black President, that’s amazing’ that’s something neither my father nor mother thought was possible,” said Juste.

Just as important he felt, was the fact that his son would be able to say that in his lifetime, a black man had been President.

“I felt this had such a profound meaning in my life, I wondered how it would feel for African Americans who lived in the South and the construct of systemic racism and how much more that feeling must have transferred to them,” said Juste. “As an immigrant myself born in Haiti, I was fighting a similar fight, we both shared the same commonality of dignity and respect and our Afro heritage although I am of mixed descent, I claim them all.”

Together, Leonard and Carl decided to embark on a journey to document their idea.

Elmore Nickelberry stands defiant and proud much like he did 40 years ago during the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike in protest of the death and treatment of fellow workers. Bearing a sign that declared equal treatment 40 years ago, Elmore Nickelberry, right, then a Memphis sanitation worker on strike, was shocked at the King slaying at the Lorraine Motel : ‘I was mad. It hurt me.’ His son Terence displays a slogan made famous by the 1968 sanitation strike. Photo by Carl Juste/Miami Herald Staff

“The initial plan was to travel the country and take two weeks and spend time talking to African American men. We wanted to talk to imposing figures like Shaquille O’ Neal and others of his stature, as well as with the sanitation workers,” said Pitts, Jr. “However, due to budget constraints, the trip got whittled down to three days in Memphis, so the focus shifted entirely to the sanitation workers strike and Dr. King’s assassination.”

There is no one else Juste wanted on the journey with him more than Leonard.

“I saw all these things intersecting at this poignant juncture, time and moment and I couldn’t think of anyone else that I’d want to work with on this because he spoke to the African American experience and I spoke to the immigrant experience,” said Juste.

Together Carl and Leonard spoke to many of the men who were part of the strike in 1968. Those conversations struck a nerve with both of them, bringing to light the importance of their movement but also, a sad reality.

“It made me kind of sad because their strike really wasn’t much of a victory seeing that they’re not well treated and don’t have a pension. They deserve better,” said Pitts, Jr. “I’m seeing a 70-year-old man who is still hauling sanitation and he doesn’t see retirement coming to him. He should have some kind of dignity.”

Getting the men to open up was no easy task said Pitts, Jr. “because these men are not extremely sophisticated or in touch with their feelings. They want to talk they just aren’t spill your guts kind of guys.”

Speaking to them though, did dredge up old wounds for some who “cried while being interviewed, you find those deep wells of emotion in all of them. If you dig, you will find these guys,” said Leonard.

Displayed is I AM A Man as part of MoCA’s Art on the Plaza featuring Miami-based artist and Miami Herald photojournalist, Carl Juste. Photo by Carl Juste/Miami Herald Staff

Although Nickelberry is the one depicted at MOCA, Juste photographed every single one of them men from the strike, but he chose this particular image for a reason.

“I did photograph every single one of them, but it was wonderful to see Nickelberry and his son Terrence, who is also a sanitation worker, to show how it went from one generation to the other,” said Juste.

Spending time with Elmore, Juste felt he embodied all the elements at that moment and was able to articulate his emotions and memories “although all of them did a great job, for some reason he visually captured what I was looking for,” Carl said.

Although several men were photographed during their time in Memphis ultimately, the image of Elmore and his son in the foreground holding the sign “I Am A Man” was chosen to be displayed at North Miami’s MOCA Plaza. The striking black and white image is large enough for all to see while walking along or driving on NE 125 St.

“I think Mr. Nickelberry gave us a gift, I’m just a conduit. I feel both the museum and Mr. Nickelberry have offered the community a memory of the past but also a promise,” said Juste. “The photo is a description of how he felt and who he is and it’s a declaration that he is a man, something he couldn’t say in 1968 without repercussions both physically and socially.”

Carl goes on to say, “seeing this displayed puts an exclamation point on that statement. This is a reminder for all of us — not just black men but all of us — that we can declare what we are. That we are human and are important. We’re not props, and I think that’s a lesson for all of us.”

Leonard applauds Carl for capturing the image saying, “I think that picture is just a piece of poetry.”

This project perfectly echoes our current times, with the recent passing of legendary Civil Rights activist and Congressman John Lewis along with the Black Lives Matter movement.

“If you ever felt disenfranchised or a sense of injustice, this image honors that and also the memory and the legacy of the late John Lewis and his poem by Langston Hughes. All of it speaks to a greater truth,” said Juste.

In a recent Zoom Webinar with Carl and Leonard, hosted by MOCA, talk of a possible documentary about the project arose, something they both would welcome.

“We would love to see this be a documentary, but funding is always an issue,” said Juste.

Perhaps one of Miami’s many local filmmakers will step up to the plate and make this happen?

Webber Charles takes a selfie at MOCA Plaza.

In the meantime, make your way to MOCA Plaza at 770 NE 125 St. to view the image, take a selfie and document it, something Carl would love to see everyone do. If you do take a selfie, make sure to tag Juste’s Instagram @cpj_is_here

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