Symbolic Annihilation: Analyzing Associated Press’s Erasure of Vanessa Nakate and Marginalization of Black Women Activists

Abstract

This paper examines the exclusion of Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan climate activist, from a group photo published by the Associated Press (AP) during the 2020 World Economic Forum. Using the muted group theory, it explores the implications of Nakate’s omission as the sole black individual in the image, shedding light on the broader issue of symbolic annihilation faced by black women activists in Western media. Through visual and textual analysis, the study reveals the power dynamics and biases behind AP’s decision to crop Nakate, fueling subsequent controversy. Furthermore, the paper examines AP’s response to the backlash, analyzing their strategies to rebuild their reputation, including issuing an apology and releasing the original photograph.