Anoutstandingphotographybookdocumentingamovementthatrockedtheworld.SydShelton:RockAgainstRacismisabodyofphotographsthatSydSheltonproducedforandabouttheBritishRockAgainstRacismmovement(RAR)of1976-1981.ForShelton,thisworkwasasocialistact,whathecallsa“graphicargument,“onbehalfofmarginalizedlives.Hispracticeofphotographicactivismbeganin1973whenhewasdriventodocumentthesocioculturalandpoliticaldynamicsexpressedonthestreetsofSydneybyurbanAustralianAboriginalcommunities,theworkingclass,andthearchitecturallandscapesofthesegroups.Shelton’sfirstsoloshowin1975,“WorkingClassHeroes“attheSydneyFilm-makersCooperative,establishedhisdistinctactivisteye.SheltonjoinedRARinearly1977onhisreturntoEnglandfromAustralia.Hedidsobecausehefoundhisbirthplaceamoreracistcountrythanithadbeenwhenheleft.ThiswasmarkedbytheincreasedpoliticalpresenceoftheNationalFront,notablyitsgainofsome119,000votesintheGreaterLondonCouncilElectionsofMay1977.Shelton,likemillionsofothers,fearedforthefutureofmulti-culturalBritain.HiscontributiontoRARwastobeontheLondoncommittee,tocreategraphicmaterialwithotherRARmemberssuchastheRARpublication“TemporaryHoarding,“posters’badgesandhisphotography--RARdidnothaveanofficialphotographer.Shelton’sinstinctiveneedtodocumentRAR--itsevents,contributors,andsupporters--hasresultedinthelargestcollectionofimagesonthemovement.AlongsidehisdocumentationofRAR,Sheltontookphotographsofwhathecalls“thecontextualimages,“thelivesandlandscapesthatweredefinedbyothersas“different,“andthatoftenfueledracistactsofviolencebysimplybeing.WhatispresentedhereareShelton’sauthoritativevisualstatementsasparticipant-photographeronthesocialtempoinBritainatthistimeandtheactivistpotencyofRAR.Ascollectiveactivism,RAR’ssuccesswasdependentonindividualcontributionstofuelthemovement’sactivitiesacrossthecountry.Thisuniquenational,andeventuallyinternational,chargeincorporatedthevisualdynamicofhowBlackandwhiteRARcontributorsandparticipantsstyledtheirbodiesasanotherantagonistictoolagainstracism.Thesewereactsofstyleactivism--themakingofanactivistidentitythroughtheconsideredcompositionofclothes,accessories,hairstyles,makeup,andbodylanguage.Shelton’simagespromptustorememberthattheindividualsatRARcarnivals,gigs,anddemonstrationsweretheevent--theywereRAR.TherearemanyversionsofwhatRARwasanditslegacy.SydShelton:RockAgainstRacismprovidesanauto/biographicaltellingofthathistoricalmoment.ItreflectsonhowShelton’sworkasaphotographercontributedtowardssocialchangeatacriticalmomentofpoliticalandracialtensioninBritain.
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