May 27, 2008
I was directing a television commercial in Lesotho, Southern Africa a number of years ago. During my "down" time I photographed the scenery on remote mountain roads around where we were shooting the commercial.
Every time we stopped to take a picture local kids came rushing out of the scrub, yelling "Sweets, sweets."
On my outings I carried a big bag of goodies to hand out to the kids as a treat, including candy and fruit. I always took "stuff" to give the kids because they are so poor and impoverished and it just broke my heart to see their tear-stained little faces.
At one particular stop I photographed almost ten kids. They were from a small village nearby and had chased the car for a half a mile before I noticed them yelling and waving from the cloud of dust behind the vehicle.
After handing out a bunch of candy and some bread and fruit, (and most of the money I had on me, because I felt so bad for these little ones) I sat on the hood of the car and reloaded my camera with a new roll of film.
A movement from a huge thorn tree just off the road caught my eye.
I looked over and noticed a young girl peering out from behind the tree. When she realized I had spotted her, she quickly ducked back behind the tree.
"Tell her to come and get some goodies," I said to the guide who was driving me around.
He called her over, but she stayed behind the tree.
I held up the candy for her.
She didn't budge.
I slowly got off the hood of the car and walked over to the tree holding out the bag. The guide walked with me.
I extended my hand to the girl and she reached around the tree and without showing her face took a handful of sweets.
"Don't be afraid," I said.
The guide translated.
The girl spoke back from behind the tree.
"She says she is afraid you will be scared of her," said the guide.
"Why should I be scared of her?" I asked.
The guide relayed the question.
The girl answered.
"She says you will be afraid because she is ugly," replied the guide.
"That's ridiculous." I said. "Tell her I'll show her that she's not ugly."
The guide spoke to the girl and after a lot of banter and coaching her talked her out from behind the tree.
I caught my breath as the girl came into full view. I could not help staring at her.
She was beautiful.
She had the most amazing hazel eyes.
"Ah ha!" said the guide. "She is hiding because of her eyes. Very few African have those colors in their eyes. I'm sure the witch doctors think she is evil and will bring people bad luck. That's probably why she is not playing with the other kids."
The guide spoke to her again.
She replied without looking at him.
The elders have kicked her out of the village.," he said. "They won't let her come near the huts. She lives in the back where the chickens sleep," he said.
"That's so sad," I said.
"We are very superstitious people,' said the guide, grinning. "Things like that are considered a sign from the gods."
"Tell her I want to show her something beautiful," I said.
The guide passed on my words.
The girl looked over at me shyly. Then the guide said something and she smiled.
"What did you say to her?" I asked the guide.
"I told her you wanted to show her something beautiful." He replied. "Then I told her not to worry because the only ugly thing around here was you, not her, because you are so white."
The guide and I burst into laughter.
"Am I really ugly?" I asked him.
"A little," he replied.
We both laughed again and this seemed to put the girl at ease.
I took out my Polaroid camera and positioned myself in front of the girl.
She leaned forward and peered closely at the strange looking object in my hand.
I took the picture.
The Polaroid picture popped out of the camera and I waved it gently in the African heat to let it dry.
After it had developed fully, I showed it to the girl.
"You are beautiful," I said to her.
The guide translated.
I handed her the picture.
I will never forget the look on her face. She held the picture like it was the most delicate thing she had ever handled in her life.
She stared at if for the longest time.
"Is this me?" she asked the guide.
He nodded.
The little girl glanced up and said something.
The guide looked like he was about to cry.
"What did she say?"
"She said," he replied, softly. "You are right. I AM beautiful."
Posted by trevor at May 27, 2008 04:22 PM