1957. The first day of Dorothy Counts at the Harry Harding High School in the United States . Counts was one of the first black students admitted in the school, and she was no longer able to stand the harassments after 4 days. Related : More on this
January 12, 1960. A second before the Japanese Socialist Party leader Asanuma was murdered by an opponent student.
Photo Credits: Yasushi Nagao, Japan, Mainichi Shimbun
1963. Thich Quang Duc, the Buddhist priest in Southern Vietnam , burns himself to death protesting the government’s torture policy against priests. Thich Quang Dug never made a sound or moved while he was burning. Photo Credits:Malcolm W. Browne,The Associated Press.
1962. A soldier shot by a sniper hangs onto a priest in his last moments. Puerto Cabello naval base, Venezuela, June 1962. A soldier who has been mortally wounded by a sniper clings onto navy chaplain Luis Padillo. Photo Credits:Héctor Rondón Lovera, Venezuela,Diario La República.
1965. Loc Thuong, Binh Dinh, South Vietnam, September 1965. Mother and children wade across river to escape US bombing. Photo Credits:Kyoichi Sawada, Japan, United Press International.
1966. Tan Binh, South Vietnam, 24 February 1966. American troops drag the body of a Viet Cong soldier to be buried. Photo Credit: Kyoichi Sawada, Japan, United Press International.
February 1, 1968. South Vietnam police chief Nguyen Ngoc Loan shots a young man, whom he suspects to be a Viet Kong soldier. Photo Credits: Eddie Adams, USA, The Associated Press.
1972. Trangbang, South Vietnam, 8 June 1972. Phan Thi Kim Phuc (center) flees from the scene where South Vietnamese planes have mistakenly dropped napalm. Photo Credit: (Nick) Ut Cong Huynh, Vietnam, The Associated Press.
1973. A few seconds before Chile ‘s elected president Salvador Allende is dead during the coup. Photo: NYT 
1975. Boston, USA, 22 July 1975. A woman and a girl are hurled down as the fire escape of their apartment building collapses. Photo Credits: Stanley Forman, USA, The Boston Herald.
April 1980. A kid in Uganda about to die of hunger with a missionary.Karamoja district, Uganda. Photo Credits: Mike 
Wells, United Kingdom.
February 23, 1981. Colonel Molina ve military police seizes the Parliament building in Spain . The photographer did not expect the scene, and hid the films in his shoe. Photo Credits: Manuel Pérez Barriopedro, Spain, Agencia EFE. 
1982. Palestinian refugees murdered in Beirut , Lebanon . Photo Credits: Robin Moyer, USA 
1987. A mother in South Korea apologizes and asks for forgiveness for her son who was arrested after attending a protest. He was protesting the alleged manipulations in the general elections. Photo Credits: Anthony Suau, USA, Black 
1989. Beijing, China, 4 June 1989. A demonstrator confronts a line of People’s Liberation Army tanks during Tiananmen Square demonstrations for democratic reform. Photo Credits: Charlie Cole, USA, Newsweek. 
1992, November. Bardera, Somalia. Mother lifts up the body of her child, a famine victim, to bring it to the grave.. Photo
Credit: James Nachtwey, USA, Magnum Photos, USA for Libération, France.
1994. Rwanda. Hutu man mutilated by the Hutu ‘Interahamwe’ militia, who suspected him of sympathizing with the Tutsi rebels. Photo Credits: James Nachtwey, USA, Magnum Photos for Time.
1996. Kuito, Angola. Landmine victims in Kuito, a town where many people were killed and traumatized during the civil war. . Photo Credit:Francesco Zizola, Italy, Agenzia Contrasto.
2001. An Afghani refugee kid’s body is being prepared for the funeral in Pakistan . Photo Credits:Erik Refner, for Berlingske Tidende.Denmark,
2002. Soldiers and villagers in Iran are digging graves for the victims of the earthquake. A kid holds his father’s pants before he is buried. Photo Credits: Eric Grigorian, Armenia/USA, Polaris Images.
2003. An Iraqi prisoner of war tries to calm down his child. Photo Credits: Jean-Marc Bouju, France, The Associated Press
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The pictures are very moving, a depiction of what life is today in this world.
However, I want to address some of you who think human race has NOT changed. It has. By three million miles. The difference between now, the middle ages, the “Dark Ages”, times of Crusades, times of Inquisitions, times of darkness is that now we get to actually see this, either through pictures or video and then replicated throughout the world by the internet.
We are not perfect, H. sapiens never will be, but let’s not forget how far we have also gone. This photo essay also reminds us of how far we have yet to go.
Amen!
Also the warmongers of today know the power of a camera lense . As proven some of these photos ,like the little girl running down the road after the Americans bombed Laos with Naparm and continuously bombed that helpless country for 8 years non stop 24 hours a day . This photo stuck in the peoples mind all over the world . As did the image of the chinaman who stopped the tanks ,i remmember seeing this image on the cover of Time magazine . His wife was sent the bill for the bullet that eventually killed him . The world is NOT a nice place and never will be Human beings will always see to that .
You just called him a “chinaman” but then condemned the US for bombings. Contradictory statements are contradictory.
These are indeed powerful images. Thought provoking, depressing, sobering, and disturbing. I read through some of the comments and see many statements that try to either blame or defend America. I would just say that all countries have committed atrocities and war will always have such bloody and grisly scenes. At least in America we can post such things and point the finger at ourselves and/or our government (not that it does a lot of good anymore).
Of course, being Cherokee, I cannot help but to think what pictures would have been taken on the Trail of Tears.
Lee Lewis
I have goosebumps all over.
There are no words to describe the photos. Amazing. Incredible. Heart wrenching. Tear jerking. Unbelievable.
Thanks for the reality check.
The sad part is,that it will repeat itself, but where?, do we ever learn from the past, How we stop it, Education, Love, this is a good way to start, ty.
dead things make me happy.
Guy, I`m so sorry for you and the way you think.
As human beings, we are capable of such cruelty and blindness. And out of this dark, cold world where compassion exists merely in the shadows of suffocating pain, such soul-shattering images of endearment, courage and beauty are born…. It’s this power we have to rise above, and out of, the ashes we reduce ourselves down to that both saddens and enlightens.
I feel like the caption on the photo of Thich Quang Duc (the Buddhist monk burning himself in protest) does not really explain the whole story, but I understand the space limitations of captions!
For more information about Thich Quang Duc:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quang_Duc
Also, it should be noted that Buddhist monks also often practice self-immolation as the ultimate form of karma generation. By sacrificing themselves, they generate huge amounts of karma, which they then donate to the world. If this was part of Quang Duc’s motivation behind his self-immolation, it is likely that his karma was directed toward ending the war.
Thank you for sharing these photos. Shocking reminders of human nature and the way of the world, and at the same time heartbreaking reminders of the human condition.
Wowwww!!!
Shocking and no doubt powerful images.
Look what people do to each other!!!!, look what we are capable of… and all those was done because of us, we don’t care about them, about anyone…. we are happy when we have a nice and cozy place to stay in and that’s all… we need to think more, we need to think for ourselves and STOP being so egoists. it files me with anger when y see those pictures, because it all happened because of us… like all the bad thing in the world…. shame isn’t enough to feel when reading this, we need to show the world that we can make a change in our lives without having to kill or harm another human being.
Robert are you a good person? are kind to people? Do you forgive those that hurt you? Do you get along perfectly with everyone in your family? Do you do good for your fellow man and not expect anything in return? I bet you go around telling people how good you are. Do you look down on people? anyone at all. Have you ever had anyone kill your ancestors because of there beliefs, color of skin, where they lived, what god they worship. Have you ever had some one tell you they don’t want you to live in there neighborhood because of your nationality? There are cultures being wiped out as we type. What are you doing about it? It is easy to blame and point your finger at everybody else.
What have you done for the world lately except complain?
He was talking about people in general. He never said he was better than everyone or anyone.
do something about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH MY!! THOSE PICTURES MOVED ME!! IT WAS A GREAT TRAVEL BACK IN TIME!!
lol, right.. back in time.. sure.
I sat here for a long time looking for words…nothing eloquent or original will come to mind. I am moved by so many of these photographs, even the ones that are burned into our collective psyche. I feel the pain, the fear, and the sheer humanity of each of these people.
Yes. Blame the United States on all of it, and everyone that lives in the United States. Its all their fault. Pfft. Ignorance like that is the reason photos like those are in existence today.
In the hustle and bustle of modern cities, in our lust for money and pleasure, we forgot about those who need our help. We are so short-sighted that we do not notice the sufferings of our neighbors. These photos make us to stop and think about more important things than our personal satisfaction. People who took these photos did a great job.
That is breath taking….
Ah…such sad photos. How can people to such things to each other? How damaged does a person have to be in order to commit such horrendous acts? I could not help weeping for the victims. Namaste!
Great photographs of the worst side of humanity, but the true failure is in those who are so easily swayed and who would bring down this great country. Those who whine about the torture and atrocities committed by America do not live in reality. You have absolutely no clue what torture is or how many lives have been saved by America’s fighting men and women, or of the unparalleled generosity of this great nation. No country in this history of the world has done so much in such a short time yet asked for (and received) so little in return. Rather than complain you should get down on your knees and thank God that there is a United States of America and that you live here.
Unreal. As an American also, Why John? Why do you sound so defensive? Why do you sound brainwashed? Samuel Johnson had it right when he said: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” We can do better.
I’m thinking just the fact that all of you have stopped, felt moved and compelled to say something … anything is hopeful. I don’t think we can ever fully comprehend the events portrayed in these photos. Many times I have questioned the existence of evil in our world, and I can only assume the reason behind these images as simply that. Hopefully, on the other hand, there is good in our world – and good can win over evil. I pray it can.
sad part is once we shut off the internet, TV or that DAILY f*cked up NEWS of a paper, the poverty, hunger, bombings, injustice,rapes.beatings.torutres etc etc etc do not stop!! The picture continues to live in a place far from you but very real to the truth!
OUCH!
but its ok,, we can go back to our lovely homes and families, loved ones, laptops, i-pods.favourite hangout etc etc etc and igonre it all!
ppppsssshhhhhhhh
shame
shame
shame on us all!
Sad thing, is, there will always be more of mankind madness, we just never learn, do we ??
Humans can be better. I believe it starts within ourselves by having kindness our guiding light. Forgive. Never miss an opportunity to do a kindness, especially if it is anonymously done. Each one teach one. Each one feed one. It IS contagious. Just as contagious. Let your actions always be led by the Golden Rule. I am a poor representative of these things but that does not matter. What matters is that we persevere, not give up and believe the best of your fellow walkers on this great planet. I was so saddened by those reminders from my past. I would like to see an equally HOPEFUL montage of the best in ourselves. Inspire me! My mother used to say, “trash in, trash out” She meant that we need to feed and nourish our minds with goodness, hope. She was by no means a pious, prissy person, nor am I. I don’t want to shut the door on all manner of evil, I just choose to put more positive images, words, thoughts and people into my life. Hope in, hope out. Love in, Love out. What do you think? Am I some hopeless Pollyanna? LOL. NOT.
This photos reminds me that never the less, a photo is not a strong as a video http://www.realsnuffstuff.com/
unfortunately those pictures are not just the face of reality but also the hidden face of ourselves pretending to be ” human civilization “
I’m about to embark on a visual communications degree in the uk. I am an Englishman with true human values. I think now that we HAVE evolved, as that’s what organisms do. These pictures are a gut twisting reminder of our demonic intent. These intentions are the cause of manipulative and dark ideollogy. As a globe we are distracted by choices. Whilst distracted we are unaware of our evolvement. I firmly believe that until we realise firstly, we are led by a conscience and secondly, the unexplained phonoemona of God the creator IS our own peace of mind,we will continue to the obvious extinction of all mankind as we know it. It’s so simple yet we imagine it to be much more. Prophets paved the way and it’s not at all about powerful ownership. There’s more than enough food, water and respect for the species, to go round. Come on! What are we waiting for……
i really dont knw.. is there a real useful comment about these photos.. heaven and hell.. we can see both in da earth..
dont knw why.. we all da human…kill each other..! when we cannt give life.. why we take life..!!!we cannt be God!!! doesnt mean we have to be evil..! there cannt b any excuse to take a life!!! no matter who he is.. Saddam.. Bush..Iraq..USA or who ever.. for bad ppl.. its da relief frm punish… thy shd live n suffer.. i m sure end of da they dont have good sleep..! n for innocents.. so painful.. ! i dont knw abt others.. but i feel bad by myself..! whn i eat a extra meal..by thing someone in da same world may b a kid dying for food! strange world n strange we humans! da greatest creation of God!
Wow. These pictures make me sick to my stomach. We should……or we need…. is all I hear in these comments. Make something happen. Buy a ticket to the Congo and make a difference. You don’t have to be rich to make a difference in someones life. And there is not a better feeling in this world than that of helping others. But for some reason us as Americans just live a long but pathetic life. We don’t help anybody but ourselves. Why? Can somebody please tell me.
Those whom don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. That is what these photos should stand for. As for Ferris, I am an American, not proud of ALL our history, but it is ours and many great things have come from it. To act like any country is perfect is absurd. It is an ongoing learning experience. As for those who only are focusing on the sadness from which these pictures show, try imagining what changes they have brought about. I don’t know if the human race will ever live in total harmony but I think that communication is key to peace and with the increase in technologies, our communication with each other both friend and foe will eventually have favorable outcomes. I wouldn’t have liked to have lived in generations before mine, I feel that they had greater hardships than the ones I face, For that I’m greatful. I hope that future generations will say about the same about our generation,NOT JUST American’s but the world’s abroad.
As for u Ferris, America has helped many of other countries and I feel that u and many others overlook that. Plus you comment that all u hear is ‘we need or we should’ I hear about the same from you and your comment. While many fight for the chance to live in a country such as ours, you can only complain. IF YOU have the answer to world peace why don’t u save everyone else a bunch of time and effort and tell us.
PS: Sorry this comment wasn’t to ment to focus on the United States and our doings. HOWEVER> where are the Pics of good things that have happened in history? Peace agreements, tearing down things that seperate us as countries, saving lives, making a difference for the good…etc? Seems like you only post pics of the worst of humankind, what about the good in us?
Please let me know if I could use this pictures and the historic notes, so I could publish it in my BLOG or YouTube?
Or, has it been done already?
Will wait for your response, please respond ASAP.
Thank you,
Some of them are horrific, and sad. Did any of you know Americans could be cruel enough to torture people? I’m a kid and I always thought that our nation was kind. Guess I’m wrong. I hope that photographer for the 2003 Iraqi war-prisoner and son told the truth. I wonder if the kid’s actually sick..or dying from the heatstroke or dehydration. Not “calm downnnn”.. Tch.
Hola,soy de Venezuela,esas fotos son muy crudas,pero muy reflexivas,ahi se ve la gran debilidad que es el ser humano,pues es el unico capaz de matar a su projimo y torturarlo hasta morir.
Me gusto la foto donde esta el sacerdote y el soldado,es bastante conmovedora,en mi pais se gano un premio de fotografia y tambien significo mucho en Venezuela,eso dio un aire de reflexion entre los ciudadanos venezolanos en la era democratica de venezolana,incluso en este gobierno de Chávez,donde estamos en una grave crisis socio-politica,y este es el momento donde necesitamos la unidad no solo de la patria,sino del mundo entero para que esto acabe.
¡Ni un muerto más!
No doubt, the mostly of world is a shit
I must say this a great site to look at. The images are very soul moving. People should do more of this kind of stuff in the face of growing violence and exploitation.
so so sad bless all those poor souls
Viewing pictures like this makes my soul ache knowing that no matter how tragic all of these moments are it will never stop we are all humans in a seage of inhumanity and there is nothing that anyone can do we had our chance and now its only mother nature that will cleans her earth and rid herself of her human infection and now as i live my life im waiting for the moment that father time chooses the cleansing PICTURES CAN CAPTIVATE A SOUL BUT HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE IF NO ONES HERE TO VIEW THEM OR TAKE THEM?
@ Ben:
Vietnam was in a very hectic situation at that time. You had to think quickly.
And indeed, the photograph of Nguyen Ngoc Loan killing Nguyen Van Lem does not tell the whole story.
Americans make themselves view America’s involvement in the Vietnam War in a negative light. Only the flaws of America are shown. Only the flaws of South Vietnam are shown. We are so democratic that we can reveal our own flaws without the government prosecuting us.
“There is nothing heroic about shooting an unarmed, bound person in the head.” If you did not know the background information, indeed you would say that.
What is past is past. The last photo is NOW!
Shame on the USA (yes I am American)! If every American against the war, against Bush only bought gas to get to work (and taking Metro or biking if possible), no vacations, no ‘shopping’ — within 1 week the war would be OVER! Everyone in this bullying country is responsible for the war! No child should be harmed, ever! We are evil! Take a look at this child. Do not buy USA!
what has this world come to?
think about it
Sometimes I wonder if my thoughts will make a difference, but here they are anyway.
People shouldn’t blame a particular country for all the bad things that happen in the world. There are good and bad people in all corners of this planet (probably except underwater).
At the moment at school I’m studying the Viet Nam, AKA American, War. People were confused about what they were doing and where “the enemy” was. There were no obvious battle lines. There were bombs in restaurants and places like that. People against North Viet Nam from different countries couldn’t tell the difference between the NVA, PLAF, VC’s and ARVN. They got scared and shot at anyone who seemed to be a threat… some people died even from “Friendly Fire”, accidentally shot by an ally. The Vietnamese were fighting for their peasants, they wanted to own their country, not be plagued by poverty, and they believed communism was the key. Before the Americans, Australians, British and New Zealanders became involved in the war, the French took over Viet Nam, in the hope of colonising it. The French sold their resources and tried to turn them from Buddhism to be Catholics. I am not quite sure why the other countries invaded, the books and sites I’ve read haven’t told me. hmm during World War Two while Britain was busy fighting the Nazis, Australia was afraid of a Japanese invasion and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Americans were against the Japanese so that explains why Aust joined the Viet Nam War: they were allied with the US. but it doesn’t explain why they were in Viet Nam in the first place. It’s kinda confusing and there has been a lot of controversy over the war, and over war in general. War is stupid but so are a lot of things, famine, death, abortion. As some people commenting on this site have already said, we aren’t perfect and none of the countries in this planet are. I hope this doesn’t sound like a history lesson…
These pictures made me cry. Usually I don’t comment on websites unless it’s just to talk to someone who’s with me. Right now I just thought I should comment.
I live in a country that has the 10 most deadliest snakes and I have only seen one snake in my life… it was small. not sure if it was a snake. Anyways, we can all sit around looking at pictures on the net and cry and be sad without fully understanding whats really going on out there. If I went out into the bush, there would be a pretty likely chance I woudl at least walk past a snake. Yesterday I learnt tha in one in three houses in my area there is a carpet python, which are harmless and kill rats and mice (most people think they’re pests but I don’t…) Since I dont go walking aroudn the bush much I dont see how many dangerous animals are out there, not to mention kangaroos, koalas and lizards. My point is, if we don’t go out and help people who are suffering like this we wont see much of it. We’ll only see what the media wants us to.
Just recently, China had an earthquake that shook half their country. why aren’t more people going to help… Thousands of people are buried in rubble and the news on tv seems to think most people here are worried about their relatives, tourists that were over there at the time. I wana know the truth but I don’t have the money to get there… I reckon money is stupid but I could go on all day about this.
Learning about Viet Nam makes me want to go to Saigon. It makes me want to write a book about war, just so maybe people will be smart and not volunteer to go killing people. Am I writing too much? Is there a word limit or something? Maybe I should write a book… hmmm. I think I should stop now…
Hope this helps someone, somewhere.
Bye peoples
HAHA noooooooB
# claudius Says:
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Real world pictures these, Fa is right in a way, the americans are behind most of the tragedies of war and struggles, their vested interests in oil,timber,and quest to pump in more and more arms to the various warring factions of numerous battles in Africa, mid east.
They conveniently ignore the blatant suppression of civil liberties by the Chinese on one hand while move in with war ships to topple governments with no visible evidence of wrong doings. They have most friendly ties with the Saudies who fund most of the terror world over, while keep a distance from legitimately elected peace loving governments. They ignore the military junta of Burma, while continue to block a small nation like Cuba because they do not agree with them. This is not the end wait the americans are not done yet!
These pictures are a reminder to human kind to stop and take a break, wait and watch carefully, slow things down and understand the disaster that is unfolding.
The planet is being raped please please join in to stop all this.
*** This is one of the most ignorant posts I have read today, grow up, look at your own governments, form your own opinions instead of repeating someone else s***
These are a small particle of the total amount of atrocities since the appearing of mankind in this world.
We are undoubtedly, an entirely sick specie. Let’s begin to learn definitively
to respect the memory of the past martyrs, and, at least, making efforts to avoid more tragedies by spreading
love feelings, teaching and driving children to the most correct ways.
omg snob
Great revelation what world we live in. We need more of these in our world then may be we will wake up to work towards real change and restoration of human dignity.
I lived in Karamoja,Uganda three years ago, and the life challenges have not got any less in the twenty five years. The Millenium Development Goals seem to have excluded those that need them most.
Let’s all say “It begins with me, I have to make some change!”
Every time I see this type of image it makes me wonder how this still happens everyday whether reported or not. When I was a child I thought by the time it was the year 2000 we would live in a utopian society with flying cars and living on the moon. Now all I wish for is that humanity would wake up to itself and learn from the mistakes rather than repeat them.
Ive seen all these before, and besides this is all just images of things america has or is alleged ot have done. it’s pretty slanted, which sorta makes it suck. i hate being misled or preached to
Thank you.
in your reply to your \dead things make me happy\ comment, i just want to let you know your a sick twisted bitch, did you not see the dead children?
These are indeed powerful images. I see these and can only cry, they are that moving. I know that good will triumph over evil…..I must believe that. It is true that these are split seconds in time of horrible times that still occur today. I think many people live in ignorance and simply do not care until it affects them. I appreciate the poster for taking the time to compile these images to remind us of where came, where we are at and where we should go.
Photos do lie kiddos. It never ceases to amaze how quickly young minds eat up propaganda.
Those that watch from afar marvel how the technology has changed but the traits have not. Destiny is the slippery slope of no return.
Very sad pictures. But the only way that anything will change is when everyone… every culture, every religious belief, every social status…I mean everyone, can learn to get along and find nonviolent solutions to the problems of the world. Many of the problems such as famine are caused by the undeveloped countries’ leaders not allowing change to happen. While they live in a palace with a gold toilet. This has been going on for thousands of years, and will continue for many thousands to come. It is just the nature of the human beast. I just hate that people have to lose their lives in the process.
I support the work of our troops, I may not agree with the reasons that they are fighting, but I support them whole-heartedly. I am the proud aunt of a Marine! I worry about him every day, but I know he is fighting for what he believes in, and for that I am very proud of him!
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