A new photobook by French photographer Jean-Pierre Laffont offers an intimate look at the defining social and political movements in the United States between the 1960s and 1980s. Titled Rebels With a Cause, the collection draws on twenty years of Laffont’s documentation of demonstrations, clashes, and countercultural gatherings across America.
Laffont arrived in the United States in 1964 as an immigrant armed with a camera. This outsider perspective allowed him to capture a generation defined by its relentless questioning of established norms. His work spans a formative period of American history, documenting the counterculture revolutions that continue to shape contemporary society.
The book, published by Damiani Books and available through Rough Trade, features some of Laffont’s most iconic images. These include scenes from the First Earth Day in New York City on April 22, 1970, and a powerful Black Panther protest at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, on May 2, 1970.
One particularly striking sequence covers the massive anti-war demonstration in Washington, DC, on May 9, 1970, held five days after the Kent State shootings. Approximately 100,000 students gathered for the event. Laffont recalled the atmosphere as he photographed protesters jumping into the reflecting pools near the White House, an act that transformed the mourning into a
Seems a bit nostalgic for my taste, but the Kent State coverage is undeniably historically significant. Worth a look.
Does the book cover the feminist movements of the late seventies as thoroughly, or is it mostly male-dominated protests?
I had no idea the first Earth Day drew such massive crowds in NYC. Truly pivotal moments captured beautifully.
This outsider perspective is fascinating. It really highlights how distinct these American movements looked compared to Europe back then.