Why I Never Use Stock Photos of White People
Representation matters; it tells the story of who gets to be seen (and who doesn’t)
A picture is worth a thousand words and as a writer, I believe this common expression to be especially true. The right photo helps readers know what my work is about, helps my writing stand out and makes it shareable for the Gram. I’m grateful that Unsplash and Pixabay and other free image websites resources are available for use. But I have noticed something pretty disturbing — it’s hard to find pictures I want without White people.
When I search a phrase like “family” or “wedding” on Unsplash, nearly every picture is of individuals who are White (and straight). Is that the only way family looks? Why is it that “normal” is synonymous to being White?
If I want to use a photo of a person and I cannot find a picture of a person of color, I will use photos of animals or images that are racially ambiguous. And I am determined to keep it this way. Because representation matters.
While the representation of people of color has improved in the media, we are constantly bombarded by TV shows and films with White protagonists. According to the 2019 Hollywood Diversity Report from UCLA, White people are represented in 77% in top film roles, with Black people at 9%…
