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Phiz Mezey

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Phiz Mezey

American, (1925–2020)
Social justice, strong will, independent spirit, and curiosity drove Phiz Mezey's career as a journalist, photographer, writer, and teacher. Born in Harlem, New York, she grew up in the Bronx. By her early teens, her interests in writing and photography were already developing. After moving to San Francisco to pursue a career as a journalist, Phiz took an interest in Harry Bridges, the influential labor leader who was head of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which at the time was on strike. She landed a position teaching journalism at San Francisco State College (now SFSU). In 1950, she was dismissed after refusing to sign the loyalty oath required by the Levering Act, a law enacted by California requiring state employees to subscribe to an oath that specifically disavowed radical beliefs. Until the Levering Act was deemed unconstitutional, she and other faculty resisters were blacklisted for more than 15 years. During this period, Phiz turned to photography. She was acclaimed for her portraits of prominent personalities like Martin Luther King Jr., James Baldwin, and Jimi Hendrix, which appeared in Time, Collier’s, and other publications. In addition to portraits, she documented the changing landscapes of San Francisco and chronicled political events and conflicts.


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