Benjamin Rasmussen
Benjamin Rasmussen
Benjamin Rasmussen
United States
United States
United States
Series: Whiter Jubilee
Series: Whiter Jubilee
Series: Whiter Jubilee
Whiter Jubilee is an examination of the legal history of white privilege. It follows the impact of specific court cases which decided who is and is not fully American and the ripple effects that these cases have had in the small pond of American history. The court decisions created a legal basis for connecting whiteness with being American.
America the Beautiful originally ended with, “Till nobler men keep once again thy whiter jubilee!” But the lyrics were changed and forgotten, and Jubilee, as a form of forgiveness of debts and rebalancing of power, has never come. Instead, as the nation nears its 5th Golden Jubilee, what is celebrated is the power structure established in large part by the legal framework of the following cases.
Meldon Moffitt from Ferguson, Missouri
Meldon Moffitt from Ferguson, Missouri
Meldon Moffitt from Ferguson, Missouri
A portrait of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who wrote the Dred Scott decision, on a 1940 revenue stamp
A portrait of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who wrote the Dred Scott decision, on a 1940 revenue stamp
A portrait of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who wrote the Dred Scott decision, on a 1940 revenue stamp
Ferguson Youth activist Dontey Carter
Ferguson Youth activist Dontey Carter
Miss Philippines USA Kalea Pitel
Miss Philippines USA Kalea Pitel
Miss Philippines USA Kalea Pitel
“It has been a long-standing, traditional policy of the United States to limit citizenship by naturalization to members of the white race.”
De Cano v. State (1941)
“It has been a long-standing, traditional policy of the United States to limit citizenship by naturalization to members of the white race.”
De Cano v. State (1941)
“It has been a long-standing, traditional policy of the United States to limit citizenship by naturalization to members of the white race.” De Cano v. State (1941)
“Then, what is white?” Ex Parte Shahid (1915)
“Then, what is white?” Ex Parte Shahid (1915)
“Then, what is white?” Ex Parte Shahid (1915)
A statuette of Conca Indian chief Standing Bear, who was arrested after leaving his reservation to bury his son and only release when the court decided him to be “a person” and therefore have a right to a writ of habeas corpus
A statuette of Conca Indian chief Standing Bear, who was arrested after leaving his reservation to bury his son and only release when the court decided him to be “a person” and therefore have a right to a writ of habeas corpus
A statuette of Conca Indian chief Standing Bear, who was arrested after leaving his reservation to bury his son and only release when the court decided him to be “a person” and therefore have a right to a writ of habeas corpus
Chiloh Whiteshirt, a great, great, great, great grandson of Tom White Shirt, the only survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre
Chiloh Whiteshirt, a great, great, great, great grandson of Tom White Shirt, the only survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre
Chiloh Whiteshirt, a great, great, great, great grandson of Tom White Shirt, the only survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre
An American flag shield made by Rayburn Orange, grandfather to Chiloh Whiteshirt, as well as a former marine and full-blooded Cheyenne
An American flag shield made by Rayburn Orange, grandfather to Chiloh Whiteshirt, as well as a former marine and full-blooded Cheyenne
An American flag shield made by Rayburn Orange, grandfather to Chiloh Whiteshirt, as well as a former marine and full-blooded Cheyenne
President Donald Trump entering his living room in the White House Residence
President Donald Trump entering his living room in the White House Residence
President Donald Trump entering his living room in the White House Residence
A surveillance tower built by tech company Anduril watches over the Texas Mexico border
A surveillance tower built by tech company Anduril watches over the Texas Mexico border
A surveillance tower built by tech company Anduril watches over the Texas Mexico border
