It was a simple photograph of a simple act that took place behind a closed door during a national Methodist church convention in St. Louis.
Through the unlimited intimacy of the internet, this profound picture made its way around the world and provided glorious evidence of Barack Obama’s Christian faith.
In the same improbable fashion in which a message in a bottle washes ashore, the photo (now titled “Message for the Messenger”) returns to its place of origin this weekend to raise money for the campaign for change.
St. Louis’ own Wiley Price (the American photojournalist who snapped the now world-famous photo) and C’babi Bayoc (who recreated the moment on canvas) are working with Afro World to support the candidacy of the messenger.
“I really had no desire to paint Obama,” C’babi Bayoc said.
Then he received one of the countless forwarded e-mail chains featuring Wiley Price’s photo, and his interest was sparked. Not long after he received the photo, he was contacted by Afro World and commissioned to paint a piece to use as an Obama fundraiser.
“They sent me the same photo,” C’babi said. “So I guess I felt like it was meant to be.”
Even with his years of experience as a photojournalist, Wiley couldn’t take credit for the angle – poised above the praying bishops and Obama – that C’babi couldn’t stop praising. He wasn’t even looking through the viewfinder when it was taken. Out of respect for the sacred, he held the camera above the circle of prayer – probably saying one of his own – and snapped, but not many times.
“I didn’t want to be in there firing multiple frames, because it was a prayer,” Wiley said. “So I was shooting sparingly.”
Fewer than 10 snaps – out of respect for prayer – and one of those snaps landed in millions of email inboxes. The whole thing is still hard for Wiley to believe.
“With politicians, you can’t really shoot them in a way that nobody else has done,” Wiley said. “And because there are also 15 other photographers standing there with you, you’re not going to get this moment alone.”
But Wiley was the only journalist in the room when the bishops prayed for Obama.
As they prepared for the prayer, everything changed.
“I thought they were going to just stand around and bow their heads and pray,” Wiley said.
“I didn’t know that they were going to stand in a circle, put him in the middle and put their hands on him. When they got started, I thought, ‘Oh my God, I see a picture that nobody else is going to have.’”
Now the world has it. C’babi has painted an homage to it. And Afro World wants Obama and the world to remember that it started right here.
This Saturday, Afro World is sponsoring an auction for the painting, the photo and the quilt art of Angela Green along with a meet-and-greet for these artists- all to benefit Obama.
“I am very proud to have donated a picture of Barack Obama that is going to raise money for his campaign,” Wiley said.
“It’ll probably raise more money than I could have afforded to give the campaign – even though I would like to give a sizable amount.”
The Afro World Meet and Greet featuring Wiley Price, C’Babi Bayoc and Angela Green will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, September 20 at the store (7276 Natural Bridge Rd.). Obama campaign buttons, yard signs, T-shirts and other items are available at the store as well. For more information, call (314) 389-5194 or visit www.afroworld.com.