T

he camera gave me a 
bigger purpose than 
just myself,
” said for-
mer Detroiter Joan Roth in the 
opening scene of a documentary 
telling about her adventurous, 
five-decade career as a noted 
photojournalist and activist. 
In addition to her freelance 
work, some might know Roth as 
the longtime staff photographer 
of Lilith. The Jewish women’s 
feminist magazine, under edi-
tor-in-chief Susan Weidman 
Schneider, is published in Roth’s 
adopted home of New York City. 
On June 18, as a treat for Roth 
reaching her 82nd birthday on 
June 4, she and her daughter, 
Melanie Roth Gorelick, joined 
family and friends invited to 
the local premiere of Gorelick’s 
film, A Feminist Lens: The Art 
& Activism of Photographer 
Joan Roth (afeministlens.com). 
Feminist icons provide narra-
tion for the short (28-minute) 
documentary. Released last year, 
it has been screened at eight 

film festivals to date, winning 
prizes at two. Groups can book 
a screening for programs; oth-
erwise, the film is not being 
shown commercially.
The event for 150, complete 
with complimentary popcorn 
and soft drinks, took place at 
the Emagine Royal Oak movie 
theater. Roth’s Michigan-based 
family were the evening’s hosts, 
including her sister, artist 
Marjorie Krasnick, and her sons 
and daughters-in-law, Dr. Neal 
and Sarah Krasnick; Steve and 
Jodi Krasnick, and Dr. Robert 
and Dr. Jane Krasnick. Major 
donors for the project were 
Marjorie Krasnick, the Reba 
Judith Sandler Foundation and 
the Dobkin Family Foundation.
Gorelick, CEO at Elluminate, 
an organization working for 
social change and gender justice, 
is the documentary’s writer as 
well as the executive producer. 
She worked in association with 
experienced director/producer 
Pamela French, her childhood 

ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER

Celebrating the 
legacy of former 
Detroiter and 
noted photographer 
and activist 

 Joan Roth.

A Trailblazing 
 Photojournalist

“THE CAMERA GAVE ME 
A BIGGER PURPOSE 
THAN JUST MYSELF.”

— JOAN ROTH

Joan Roth

JOAN ROTH PHOTOGRAPHY

SHIRA GORELICK

