Amazing story of resilience. I was 9 years old when this magazine was delivered by post. Parents had been lifetime subscribers. Because of National Geographic sentiment regarding wars and refugees, my family adopted 4 kids from war torn countries. Thanks for telling her story. I will recognize this face anywhere, and now i know her story, thanks to you. Bless you for that. May peace and prosperity find Sharbat Gula and her family.
And throughout the years of using her image she was given nothing, unlike Melania who has been given millions for baring herself and her ‘story’. Restitution? What do you think?🤔
Thank you for the story. Her image encouraged me in my own photojournalism. I was lucky enough to be a student at The Newhouse School where Steve McCurry was a student. I learned that photojournalists are often seen negatively, but it is photojournalism that brings the horror of war to the general population. This image gives me chills to this day.
Thank you for this post. My heart is with her and ALL victims of war war war, a lot of which is done by MY country, without the consent of the People. Best wishes to her and her children.
Our world is imploding over ignorance, greed, power politics, corruption, bigotry, racism, massive crimes and humanitarian injustices. Astonishingly, some (sub) humans have no conscience to evolve! I’m an elder now in life- and I struggle and strive daily to find human resilience and grace; hope even. These are stories of higher ground and compassion- 🙏🏽
It is a sad reflection on the Western world media that it took four decades of discussing and interpreting her photo before somebody thought it worth seeking her out to ask her.
I wonder how many who recognise the photo realised it was of a 12 year old?
The Afghan Girl story is not just her tragic life which white people inflicted upon her but also how white media like National Geographic exploited her without feeling any remorse, or a need to compensate her.
The history of our world is one long uninterrupted cruel chain of events, since the west stole explosive technology from the Chinese, to murder and steal resources from non-white indigenous people, while selling everyone the idea they are the victims of non-white savages.
It was never a decision, just a part of my basic nature.
My own country, Scotland, laid charges, last month, at the UN Courts, against the English Crown, it's monarch and govt, of the colonisation of Scotland, begun over 300 years ago.
Few folk are aware of this, because England controls the UK media.
In 1850, Scotland comprised of 40% of the UK population.
Loved this … thank you. Like most (all?) She is strikingly beautiful , and poor, I think this put her position to be exploited by the photographer, the org/magazine, etc. one could right a paper about this- why it was taken , motivations, why it was used- out of presumably hundreds or thousands of shots taken- it’s a glamour shot , a Vogue shot - as is common , usually with a girl under age of 18, but who could be older. But from a refugee camp. She became a commodity - and if her image was used so widely , didn’t she have the rights to it? Or did Nat Geo turn the profit? Very interesting issues to be explored- and a fascinating , resilient woman.
I agree. I recall the picture and the hoopla around it in 1985 and then later the side by side as she aged. I thought then as I do now that this young girl had been exploited. And I too wonder if the writer received permission to reprint these photos and discuss her life here on Substack.
Amazing story of resilience. I was 9 years old when this magazine was delivered by post. Parents had been lifetime subscribers. Because of National Geographic sentiment regarding wars and refugees, my family adopted 4 kids from war torn countries. Thanks for telling her story. I will recognize this face anywhere, and now i know her story, thanks to you. Bless you for that. May peace and prosperity find Sharbat Gula and her family.
I do - I remember just like I remember the naked child Vietnam that made headlines as she was burning. So where are the global protestors now?
National Geographic owes her some money, at the very least.
Absolutely
And throughout the years of using her image she was given nothing, unlike Melania who has been given millions for baring herself and her ‘story’. Restitution? What do you think?🤔
Thank you so much for your humanity and empathy in telling her story.
Thank you for the story. Her image encouraged me in my own photojournalism. I was lucky enough to be a student at The Newhouse School where Steve McCurry was a student. I learned that photojournalists are often seen negatively, but it is photojournalism that brings the horror of war to the general population. This image gives me chills to this day.
Thank you for this post. My heart is with her and ALL victims of war war war, a lot of which is done by MY country, without the consent of the People. Best wishes to her and her children.
Our world is imploding over ignorance, greed, power politics, corruption, bigotry, racism, massive crimes and humanitarian injustices. Astonishingly, some (sub) humans have no conscience to evolve! I’m an elder now in life- and I struggle and strive daily to find human resilience and grace; hope even. These are stories of higher ground and compassion- 🙏🏽
It is a sad reflection on the Western world media that it took four decades of discussing and interpreting her photo before somebody thought it worth seeking her out to ask her.
I wonder how many who recognise the photo realised it was of a 12 year old?
I like the, story, but I ask if she gave you permission to spread her face on Substack.
Thank you so much for this. Often wondered who she was and what happened to her
The Afghan Girl story is not just her tragic life which white people inflicted upon her but also how white media like National Geographic exploited her without feeling any remorse, or a need to compensate her.
The history of our world is one long uninterrupted cruel chain of events, since the west stole explosive technology from the Chinese, to murder and steal resources from non-white indigenous people, while selling everyone the idea they are the victims of non-white savages.
I always rooted for the underdog.
It was never a decision, just a part of my basic nature.
My own country, Scotland, laid charges, last month, at the UN Courts, against the English Crown, it's monarch and govt, of the colonisation of Scotland, begun over 300 years ago.
Few folk are aware of this, because England controls the UK media.
In 1850, Scotland comprised of 40% of the UK population.
Today we comprise just 8.4%.
People like you are a credit to your race!
Yeah, it's nice being in the human race. 😁
Read this on LinkedIn. May Allah grant safety and ease to all the refugees🤲🏽
Classic. She was married to a goat herder and then he died. Her eyes her story. Thank you so much for bringing this to light.🦋
I do hope she now lives in freedom ( as good as that gets nowadays !)
Loved this … thank you. Like most (all?) She is strikingly beautiful , and poor, I think this put her position to be exploited by the photographer, the org/magazine, etc. one could right a paper about this- why it was taken , motivations, why it was used- out of presumably hundreds or thousands of shots taken- it’s a glamour shot , a Vogue shot - as is common , usually with a girl under age of 18, but who could be older. But from a refugee camp. She became a commodity - and if her image was used so widely , didn’t she have the rights to it? Or did Nat Geo turn the profit? Very interesting issues to be explored- and a fascinating , resilient woman.
I agree. I recall the picture and the hoopla around it in 1985 and then later the side by side as she aged. I thought then as I do now that this young girl had been exploited. And I too wonder if the writer received permission to reprint these photos and discuss her life here on Substack.
Sorry, write.