NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jack Thornell, a former Associated Press photographer whose iconic image of James Meredith’s moment of peril became a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, died on Thursday in Metairie, Louisiana, at the age of 86. His son, Jay, reported that Thornell passed away in a hospital due to complications from kidney disease.
Thornell had a distinguished career with the AP that spanned from 1964 to 2004, capturing a diverse range of events from political moments to natural disasters, but it was his poignant portrayal of the fight for racial equality that marked his legacy. His entry into the world of photojournalism was significant; on his first day at the New Orleans bureau, he photographed the integration of a Mississippi school.
One of his most memorable assignments was during the 1966 civil rights march led by James Meredith, who had famously integrated the University of Mississippi in 1962. As Meredith marched on U.S. Highway 51 to encourage Black voters, he was shot, and Thornell, while witnessing the chaos, managed to capture haunting images that would later earn him the Pulitzer Prize in 1967.
The iconic photo depicted Meredith, shot and bleeding, grimacing in pain as he struggled for safety. Unknowingly, Thornell had also captured a compelling shot of Meredith appearing to look back at his assailant, a powerful testament to the violent backlash against civil rights efforts in the South.
Thornell’s work extended beyond this iconic moment; he photographed the aftermath of violence against civil rights workers in Neshoba County and captured key moments involving figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., sealing his place in the annals of history with visceral imagery that told the stories of a nation in upheaval.
Reflecting on a significant career shaped by the tumultuous era of civil rights, Thornell noted the fear he experienced while documenting these events. However, he expressed that the greater fear was the possibility of not returning with the crucial images that could define his career.
After serving in the Army, Thornell transitioned to journalism and quickly became a prominent figure in photojournalism at the AP. He is survived by his son Jay, his daughter Candy Gros, and a granddaughter. His legacy as a courageous guardian of historical truths through the lens will continue to resonate.
Thornell had a distinguished career with the AP that spanned from 1964 to 2004, capturing a diverse range of events from political moments to natural disasters, but it was his poignant portrayal of the fight for racial equality that marked his legacy. His entry into the world of photojournalism was significant; on his first day at the New Orleans bureau, he photographed the integration of a Mississippi school.
One of his most memorable assignments was during the 1966 civil rights march led by James Meredith, who had famously integrated the University of Mississippi in 1962. As Meredith marched on U.S. Highway 51 to encourage Black voters, he was shot, and Thornell, while witnessing the chaos, managed to capture haunting images that would later earn him the Pulitzer Prize in 1967.
The iconic photo depicted Meredith, shot and bleeding, grimacing in pain as he struggled for safety. Unknowingly, Thornell had also captured a compelling shot of Meredith appearing to look back at his assailant, a powerful testament to the violent backlash against civil rights efforts in the South.
Thornell’s work extended beyond this iconic moment; he photographed the aftermath of violence against civil rights workers in Neshoba County and captured key moments involving figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., sealing his place in the annals of history with visceral imagery that told the stories of a nation in upheaval.
Reflecting on a significant career shaped by the tumultuous era of civil rights, Thornell noted the fear he experienced while documenting these events. However, he expressed that the greater fear was the possibility of not returning with the crucial images that could define his career.
After serving in the Army, Thornell transitioned to journalism and quickly became a prominent figure in photojournalism at the AP. He is survived by his son Jay, his daughter Candy Gros, and a granddaughter. His legacy as a courageous guardian of historical truths through the lens will continue to resonate.
