Bernard Kleina photographs bring life to MLK's Chicago Freedom Marches

The Fr. Michael E. Komechak O.S.B., Art Gallery recently hosted an exhibition of over forty photographs by noted photographer, Bernard Kleina. These images, all in color, portrayed a chronological view of Kleina's involvement in, and observances of, Chicago's notoriously contested fair housing marches, which took place in 1965-66. They were, according to Dr. Martin Luther King, some of the most viciously and obviously resented marches of his career.

Bernard Kleina had an unparalleled access to his subjects, MLK and his inner circle, during these marches. In fact, on many occasions, Kleina appears to be only a couple of feet from MLK. Certainly reflective of the innocence of the age, these pictures present a close and personal view of MLK which most photographers today would never have that kind of intimacy with their subject.

Kleina was a priest during the mid 1960s and went to march with MLK in Selma, Alabama. (He went back to Selma for the 50th anniversary of that civil rights march.) He and other several priests went to show support for King's work. He later left the clergy and went to work in the non-profit sector for over thirty years, also for fair housing, in DuPage county, in Illinois. To meet Kleina, one would think he is a gentle soul, but after speaking with him about his work, one realizes he has an inner courage, and has made a lifelong commitment to his work and presenting these images to the public.

His ability to photograph the crowds of Chicago's marches in Marquette park, Soldier Field and along Lake Shore Drive bring the conflict to life. Young men shouting obscenities and being arrested by Chicago policemen, people pushing in and throwing bottles and and other things at the peaceful marchers, shows in one sense that the conflicts of bias and racism today haven't advanced much from the feelings expressed in Kleina's pictures from 50 years ago.

One could become discouraged by the thought, but something about Kleina's images of this great man and his convictions for freedom and fair housing for African-Americans still comes through. The steely stare and set jaw of King shows us he believed his work was something worth more than the man himself.He knew the risks and believed it was worth the effort to break down social/racial barriers.

Kleina's photographs let us get a closer look at the man and his resolve to do what he believed was right. We feel like we are with him in these images. We can believe that change will eventually come if we have the resolve to see it through. At the end of the exhibition, Kleina included several photographs of his nephew Nathan. The pictures show the promise of his youth, and a cause whose torch still needs carrying to this day.

Kleina's works are the only color images taken of Dr.King. His works are included in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. One can see more of his work at bernardkleina.com. All photographs rights are reserved. @Bernard Kleina.

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