Meet the photographer who captured President Obama’s 50th anniversary visit to Selma, AL

Few events in American history have had the ripple effects of the March 7, 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, where civil rights marchers were violently ambushed by state troopers as they advocated for their constitutional right to vote. 

The event, which would later be known as “Bloody Sunday,” was seen by millions. The vicious attacks against peaceful protesters, which included tear gas and beatings with billy clubs, sent shock waves across the world, leading to mass support for the marchers and the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This moment of nonviolent resistance stands as a testament to the power of peaceful civil disobedience in the face of unspeakable violence.  

Fifty years later, the Obama family marched with those who were beaten bloody on the bridge like the late Congressman John Lewis, along with the next generation of changemakers carrying the work forward. The Obama Presidential Center itself is imbued with Selma’s impact: celebrating the power of people getting engaged, standing on the shoulders of those who came before us, and reminding us that every generation must propel its own march toward justice. 

“What they did here will reverberate through the ages.  Not because the change they won was preordained; not because their victory was complete; but because they proved that nonviolent change is possible, that love and hope can conquer hate.” 

– President Barack Obama, Remarks by the President at the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Marches, (Opens in a new tab) 2015 

White House photographer Lawrence Jackson was on the ground for the 50th anniversary commemoration. We recently spoke with Lawrence to hear his insights and get an on-the-ground view of what it felt like to capture history.

Capturing History

Lawrence, whose career in photography began when he was 15, covered President Obama’s  campaign in 2008 for the Associated Press. He later joined the White House as a staff photographer. 

“I quickly realized that I wanted to cover the first African American president from the inside,” Lawrence recounted, “I did 8 wonderful years of travel and excitement and history with the Obama administration.” 

On the 50th anniversary of the Selma march, Lawrence focused on capturing big picture and scene-setting images, resulting in one of the Obama administration’s most iconic photos.

While taking the photo, Lawrence admits that he did not know how iconic the image would become. Like many photographers, Lawrence did not recognize the impact of his photo until reviewing his images later that evening. Today the image is firmly imprinted in his mind. 

“I can almost draw it by hand: you have the President, the First Lady, you’ve got John Lewis, and then off to the right of the photo you have the original foot soldiers, one of them being pushed in a wheelchair. And then off to the left you have Sasha, Malia, and Mrs. Robinson,” recalls Lawrence. 

The photo Lawrence describes features the First Family, hundreds of supporters and activists, and Civil Rights leaders who were present on Bloody Sunday. In a symbolic gesture, President Obama stands between Congressman John Lewis and Selma marcher Amelia Boynton Robinson. (Opens in a new tab) 

The impact of the day and the photo lingers in Lawrence’s memory. As the only Black photographer representing the White House at the Selma Anniversary, Lawrence takes pride in what he was able to accomplish and the impact of Selma on the Civil Rights Movement.

“50 years ago, then, was the catalyst of so much change. It changed the narrative because people saw what was happening: the beatings, the water cannons, the treatment,” remembers Lawrence. “They were being treated horribly and they still wanted to march and make themselves seen and heard. The treatment they got and their response changed the narrative so that a lot more got done.”

In an effort to recount all of the seminal moments photographed during his time at the White House, Lawrence published “ Yes We Did: Photos and Behind-the-Scenes Stories Celebrating Our First African American President (Opens in a new tab)” in 2019, a book detailing his time with the administration told through images and journal entries he kept throughout the years.

“My wife was adamant that I should try and do this because I was the only photographer of color on staff. [The book] is my time at the AP, my time at the Pilot, my time at the White House, all in one book and just a way to say thank you.”

Selma at the Obama Presidential Center

Sixty years later, the marches from Selma to Montgomery continue to inspire and point the way for activists from movements such as Black Lives Matter and March for Our Lives. 

Lawrence’s photo of the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches will be featured at the Obama Presidential Center campus, along with other archival photos and artifacts recounting the Civil Rights Movement. When the Center opens in 2026, visitors will be introduced to the rich and complex history of the Selma to Montgomery marches at the Museum, celebrate the enduring legacy of one of the marches leaders at the John Lewis Plaza, and draw inspiration from the exterior text of the Museum, which will feature a quote from President Obama’s speech at the 50th Anniversary event.

“I'm very excited for the opening of the Center because I know how important the Southside was to them,” declares Lawrence, “I know what this place [the Center] will represent, what it will give to the community, and what it'll give to people who go there and see what it was like from 2009 to 2017. I think pictures will be a very big part of that.”

When asked if he was excited about his work being featured at the Obama Presidential Center, Lawrence recounted a quote from prolific photographer Gordon Parks.  

“I feel very lucky and honored to have my name underneath the photo. You know this picture will be remembered and that's pretty cool,” reflects Lawrence, “but there’s a quote by Parks that says, ‘The subject matter is so much more important than the photographer,’ and that's truly what matters to me.”