Articles

Award-winning photographer Chester Higgins' book Sacred Nile offers a profound visual journey through the spiritual heritage of the Nile Valley. The collection showcases sacred sites and rituals from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, highlighting the ancient roots of major world religions such as Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Through meticulously captured images, Higgins documents centuries-old religious practices and the bond between the African landscape and faith. The book also challenges Eurocentric narratives by emphasizing black contributions to ancient civilizations and religious traditions. Read Article

This review presents an in-depth discussion of Chester Higgins' 2021 photobook, Sacred Nile, which explores the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Nile region through stunning photography and rich texts. The book is a visual record of faith documenting African and African-American spiritual histories, ancient rituals, sacred art, and the landscape. Higgins’ work is praised for reclaiming Africa’s intellectual and spiritual sovereignty, presenting an extensive study of the religious connections between ancient Egypt, Nubia, and Ethiopia. The review emphasizes the book’s scholarly endorsements and its challenge to mainstream perspectives on African civilizations. Read Article

Herb Boyd reviews three noteworthy books: "Sacred Nile" by Chester Higgins and Betsy Kissam, a stunning exploration of ancient African civilizations through photography and text; "Sometimes Farmgirls Become Revolutionaries" by Florence L. Tate and Jake-Ann Jones, an autobiographical account of Tate's activism and struggles during the civil rights era; and "Philip Payton—The Father of Black Harlem" by Kevin McGruder, which highlights Payton's pivotal role in Harlem's development and Black real estate history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Read Article

Chester Higgins, a renowned African-American photographer, has dedicated his career to capturing the rich history and culture of Black people, both in America and Africa. Starting from his early years influenced by a spiritual vision and his work at Tuskegee Institute, Higgins pursued photography to counter negative media portrayals of African-Americans. Over nearly four decades at The New York Times, he focused on dignified, authentic images of Black life, alongside numerous trips documenting African heritage. His lifelong mission is to create a visual encyclopedia of people of African descent. Read Article