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%, and Latinos at 5.2%. In top broadcast TV, White people are in 63.3% of roles and, in top cable TV roles, 71.8%. This is actually an overall improvement from previous years.
I remember growing up watching The Cosby Show, ecstatic that, while I wasn’t Black, at least someone that kind of looked like me had a place in television. I also remember watching my favorite Meg Ryan rom-coms thinking I would never have a cute romantic story to tell because I wasn’t White. These memories makes me wonder how many other little kids of color are watching TV and films today and wondering if their lives could look a certain way or if they even have a chance.
Stock photos are not just pictures. They are the symbols for normalcy and the assumptions of what is ordinary.
Whiteness (plus being heterosexual and able-bodied) dominate the narratives of our lives…
