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