Global Activism: Ruth Goring And Mike Bracey On The ‘Beautiful Faces of Colombia’

A woman watches on television the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama in Puerto Tejada, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
A woman watches on television the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama in Puerto Tejada, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. AP Photo/Christian Escobar Mora
A woman watches on television the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama in Puerto Tejada, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
A woman watches on television the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama in Puerto Tejada, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. AP Photo/Christian Escobar Mora

Global Activism: Ruth Goring And Mike Bracey On The ‘Beautiful Faces of Colombia’

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While Colombia’s African Diaspora population is the third largest in the Americas, after Brazil and the United States, they’ve endured intense violence and persecution at the hands of the country’s numerous armed factions. Chicago poet and author Ruth Goring grew up in Colombia, within a Christian missionary family. She left as a young adult, but Goring still frequents Colombia to advocate for human and civil rights for Colombians, especially Afro-Colombians. Michael Bracey, a Chicago-based photojournalist, is editor of the Africans Within the Americas project. His fascination with photographing the African Diaspora led him to meet Goring.

Together they visited Afro-Colombian neighborhoods in Colombia. Their work culminated in a new book, Beautiful Faces of Colombia (Caras lindas de Colombia). For Global Activism, they join us to share the beauty and sufferings of Afro-Colombians.

Chicago’s URI-EICHEN Gallery on 2101 S Halsted, is exhibiting their work on Saturday June 2, 2018, 6:30-9:00 p.m.