Articles

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

The exhibition "Roller Coaster: Scenes from a Marriage" by Aimee McCrory showcases a photographic series exploring her over forty-year marriage and the complexities of aging together. Created during the pandemic from a place of fear and uncertainty, the work combines staged yet lifelike images in a pseudo-documentary style. The 16 photographs focus on candid, everyday moments that highlight the joys, challenges, and emotional depth of a long-term relationship. The exhibition runs from April 8 to May 18, 2025, at the Mai Manó House. Read Article

In "Scenes from a Marriage," Aimee McCrory explores the complexities of a 43-year marriage through intimate and nuanced photographs. Her images capture moments of intimacy, boredom, growth, monotony, and deep care inherent in long-term relationships. By using herself and her husband as models, McCrory balances the personal and universal, allowing viewers to see the emotions as reflections of any long-term partnership. The series features contrasting emotions, such as tension and tenderness, highlighting both the constrictive and precious aspects of long-term tethering. Read Article

Photographer Aimee B. McCrory’s monograph "ROLLER COASTER / Scenes from a Marriage," published by Kehrer Verlag, explores love, aging, and intimacy within long-term relationships, subjects often overlooked in contemporary discussions focused on youth and sex. Created during the pandemic, the work reflects McCrory’s theater background and features staged yet authentic moments with her husband of 42 years, blending humor, honesty, and vulnerability. The project raises awareness about the joys and challenges of growing old together, confronting cultural taboos surrounding sexuality and aging among older adults. Read Article

Lisa McCord began documenting life on her grandparents’ cotton farm, Rotan Switch in Northeastern Arkansas, in 1979. Her photographs capture everyday life, traditions, and challenges faced by her family and the local African American rural community. Using both color and black & white photography, McCord offers a unique insider-outsider perspective, depicting intimate moments within homes, churches, and community spaces. Her work also reflects personal struggles and celebrations, illustrating the deep connections within this community shaped by respect, love, and resilience. Read Article

Rotan Switch is the first monograph by Lisa McCord, documenting life on her grandparents’ cotton farm in the Arkansas Delta community of Rotan. The title refers to a central landmark—the railroad switch used for loading cotton bales onto trains. Although the switch has been inactive for years, it symbolizes the complex ties between industry, agriculture, racism, and injustice. The photographic project spans 45 years, from 1978 to 2021, and follows five generations within the community. Read Article

Lisa McCord is a fine art and documentary photographer known for her evocative works inspired by her upbringing in the Arkansas Delta. This exclusive interview covers her journey into photography, starting with creative experiments in high school and studies at New York University. She shares insights into her prominent project Rotan Switch, which documents life on her grandparents' cotton farm and has been published as a book. The interview also discusses McCord's choice of black and white film, her favorite photographs, community reactions, and her future projects focused on personal storytelling. Read Article

Published in 2024 by Kehrer Verlag, Lisa McCord's monograph "Rotan Switch" is a 204-page cloth hardcover featuring 25 color and 55 tritone photographs. The work documents the Rotan farm in Arkansas, tracing McCord's family history and the Black farmworkers who lived and worked there from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. The book combines personal memoir with social history, revealing the complex power dynamics within a rural Southern community. Accompanied by essays and designed by Caleb Cain Marcus, the photobook presents candid and tender portraits while acknowledging the photographer's own privilege and family’s role in local social and economic structures. Read Article

Rotan Switch is the first monograph by Lisa McCord, documenting life on her grandparents’ cotton farm in the Arkansas Delta community of Rotan over 44 years. The project captures the complex intersections of industry, agriculture, race, and privilege within a predominantly Black community. Using analog photographs, family snapshots, Polaroids, and ephemera, McCord explores themes of identity, home, and social inequality as both participant and observer. The book thoughtfully addresses her complicated role as a white descendant of a landowner in this rural southern community. Read Article

Lisa McCord’s photobook "Rotan Switch" offers an immersive experience combining content, design, and emotion. The unique layout mimics a conversation, inviting readers into the life on her grandparents’ cotton farm in Rotan, Arkansas. Its unconventional structure uses large text blocks and interspersed images to tell a deeply personal story reflecting family life, labor, and racial dynamics in the Arkansas Delta. McCord’s photographs include both her own and found images, capturing moments of joy, struggle, and community in vivid detail. The book’s innovative design and compelling narrative create a dynamic dialogue between the author and reader. Read Article