The “Chicago Alliance of African-American Photographers” (CAAAP) was founded on March 8, 1999 by seven photographers; Leslie Adkins, Bob Black, Martha Brock, Milbert O. Brown Jr., Terry Harris, Brent Jones, and Lee Landry. One of the main objectives of the organization was to unify photographers, and promote the art of photography through exhibitions, lectures and educational programs.

The membership of the Chicago Alliance of African-American Photographers (CAAAP) is composed of commercial, fine art, freelance and newspaper photographers. Their talents cover the full spectrum of photography from street to studio photography.

Some of our members are established professionals, others are hobbyist, but all share a common passion for the art of photography and it’s power to educate and inform.

Our membership includes three Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalists: Chicago Tribune’s Ovie Carter won the 1975 Pulitzer for International Reporting and Chicago Sun-Times’ John H. White won the 1982 Pulitzer for Feature Photography. Both the Tribune’s Milbert O. Brown, Jr. and Ovie Carter were members of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize team for Explanatory Reporting.

The primary project that united the membership in the year of CAAAP’s inception was the “The Journey: The Next 100 Years,” a photographic project that documented the culture and lifestyles of Greater Chicago’s African-American communities at the beginning of the 21st century.

Over 50 Chicago Alliance of African-American Photographers produced work during the first year of the new century. Later, new CAAAP members also produced additional images for “The Journey” project.

In 2001, “The Journey: The Next 100 Years” project was a featured photographic exhibition that opened concurrently at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and the legendary community based institution, the South Side Community Art Center located in Chicago’s Bronzeville community.

Many of the CAAAP members and their work have been featured in Chicago’s daily newspapers including: the Defender, Tribune and Sun-Times. Members were interviewed on Chicago radio stations’ WVON and WBEZ. CAAAP members werealso featured on CLTV, NBC-TV, ABC-TV and in Vibe Magazine.

In 2006, with funding provided from the Chicago Tribune Foundation and assistance from Roosevelt University and the Chicago Historical Museum, CAAAP produced a book titled “The Journey: The Next 100 Years,” that features over 300 images produced by seventy CAAAP members from 2000 thru 2005.

OUR GOALS
- To document through photography the history and diverse culture of
African Americans in the Chicagoland area at the turn of the new century.
- To promote the work of professional photographers and photo hobbyists through sponsored exhibitions, publications, and lectures on personal experiences in the field of photography, and related issues.
-To conduct educational programs for children on the art and discipline
of photography.
-To inform the public and our community about the importance of
photography as an informative and creative medium of expression.

CAAAP is open to all commercial, fine art, freelance, and newspaper photographers interested in supporting these efforts.

- Malcolm X

Vice President
Bob Black

Secretary
Sharon Abena Dale

Treasurer
James Holley