IN THIS ISSUE: BEGINNINGS, ENDS & CELEBRATING EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN FEATURING BOB BLACK MASEQUA MYERS & “SUMMER TIME CHI” 2019 WWW.CAAAP.ORG
MAGAZINE
JOURNEY
MARCH 2020
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF CAAAP Welcome to CAAAP’s Online Journey Magazine. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, . . ..” These words were penned by Charles Dickens in the novel A Tale of Two Cities, which was published in March of 1859, 161 years ago during the French revolution. That beginning paragraph goes on, “. . . it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, . . ..” The parallels between the moods expressed in Dickens’ classic novel and the moods evident in the United States of America today are striking. It is the best of times for white supremacists who now have someone of their ilk positioned as the leader of the Western world. To them, they are making America great again. But it is the worst of times for African Americans who are being shot in the streets by vigilante law enforcement officers, and for Mexicans whose children are being caged away from their parents at the Mexican-U.S. border. Depending on the color of your skin, it is the spring of hope or the winter of despair. Here at the Chicago Alliance of African American Photographers, we are documenting the best and worst of times, the wisdom and the foolishness, the Light and the Darkness, the hope and the despair. That is our mission. That is our charge. That is our journey. We tell our stories, because no one else can, because no one else will. These times won’t last. But like the people we document, the images we create during these times will last . . . forever. Salutations, LARRY REDMOND
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INSIDE “THE JOURNEY” 3 Journey Committee 4 Join CAAAP 5 Derick Triplett 6 Bob Black 10 Taste of Chicago 12 African Festival of the Arts 23 Mesequa Myers
THE JOURNEY MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Journey Magazine features incredible photographers who, not only support a community, but also expand their talents to other avenues. This online publication is a product of our Journey Magazine committee members coming together and planning a visual representation of what our members have captured in 2019.
Sonja Hughes - Editor
Abena Sharon - Editor
Alexy Irving - Magazine Designer
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Join CAAAP CAAAP is not a photography club. We are an organization of photographers with a purpose. Although CAAAP members range from amateurs, professionals as well as students, anyone who has a strong knowledge and love of photography is welcome to join. We have a network of photographers that span the world. Annual Membership $60.00 Elders $30 Students $30.00
If you are interested in becoming a first time member you must complete a membership application found on the CAAAP website under the membership section. Regular CAAAP meetings are held on the third Sunday of every month from 2pm until 4pm unless otherwise noted. South Side Community Art Center 3831 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60653
President: Larry Redmond Secretary: Abena Sharon Treasurer: Sonja Hughes Sergeant at Arms: Bernard Brown Page 4
“A Legacy of Artistic Excellence� 3831 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60653 (773) 373-1026 www.sscartcenter.org
IN MEMORIAL OF
DERICK TRIPLETT PHOTO’S BY DERICK TRIPLETT STORY BY SONJA HUGHES February 4, 1973 - October 25, 2019
If you knew Derick, you knew he loved and lived photography. One knew he loved his wife, kids and family. It was expected to run into Derick and kid’s out shooting. One could say, his smaller kids were in training to be a photographer. He was an avid photographer at his church as well as his kid’s school. It was difficult for him to miss an opportunity to shoot. If something
was going on, he would find it. Say photography and he would beat you there, not meet you there. Constantly looking for “my shot”, is what he would call it. Enthusiasm overwhelmed him when family outings and vacation’s occurred because he loved his family and always looked forward to spending time with them, coordinating outfits, and then documenting the day by some medium, video or photography.
He was very strategic in planning his shot, I’m sure he got it! Being featured in the Chicago Defender and the Chicago Crusader were beginning highlights for Derick. He has also captured images of President, Barack Obama, Harry Belafonte, Father Michael Flager, Lori Lightfoot and Chance the Rapper. RIP Derick. We know you got your shot!
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Jesse Jackson - Photo by Bob Black
CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF:
BOB BLACK
IMAGES BY BOB BLACK STORY BY ALEXY IRVING
Bob Black is a Chicago native and nationally recognized photojournalist with deep roots in the development of what Chicago’s professional photography world is today. Blacks recent induction into the National Association of Black Journalist Hall of fame, serves as a reflection of how building with a community can come full circle.
As a founding member of CAAAP and the National Association of Black Journalist’s Visual Task Force, his hands have been crafting what generations after him can utilize as a vehicle to thrive in the professional photography and photojournalism industry. CAAAP and NABJ are both safe spaces for the black story teller in all of us. Your community can be found if you lean into your gifts and each of these organizations can be labeled as a starting point towards
taking your gifts professional and moving forward with a community, simultaneously. CAAAP is an organization of black photographers that was ignited following a conversation between Bob Black and CAAAP’s founding member Milbert Brown. “He [Milbert] was a Tribune photographer and we were covering the White Sox game together. This was coming into the 21st century.” STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Photo on following page: Image of Bob Black by Abena Sharon.
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“Its important for us to document our people. Our story deserves to be seen as part of a whole and only we can get in deep.� - Bob Black Page 7
Milbert asked, “Bob, what I would think I done anything great. I was like to do is pull together a bunch just trying to get the job done.“
of photographers and we just go through the city and document the black community. To see how far we’ve come and how much further we’ve got to go.“ This pivotal moment in history would later on allow Bob Black to be inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists’ Hall of Fame for being a instrumental member of the community that built him. Black recalls learning of his honor and that he was nominated through Milbert Brown and NABJ’s current president Dorothy. “It was very humbling because I always felt that people who got that honor were people that have done great things. I didn’t expect it to happen with me because I didn’t
This convention hosts industry professionals, numerous panels, workshops and keynote speakers. Black has since began archiving his The organizations mission is to work for future generations to come provide career development and education opportunities to its and has brought students through NABJ under his mentorship. members. “While I was a member of NABJ, it was a source of strength for me. When I first went to the conventions, I got to see people who were managing editors and partner heads. In Chicago, I didn’t see any of that, they didn’t have it. That’s when I found out, Black folks can be the director of photography. Because I ran into a bunch of them.” NABJ is the National Association of Black Journalist founded in Washington, DC. Every year they host a convention to bring black professionals together to pursue their professional goals.
As Sun-Times photographer Bob Black photographed this policeman skirmished with demonstrator at Division and Wells Monday night, two other policemen attacked Bob Black with clubs. Aug 26 1968
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“Theres a lot of great things happening in the Black community. People doing great things. Young people, old people, everybody, doing great things. We need to find those and document them.” One common responsibility of all photojournalist should be to tell the truth with your photography. “Its a lot of good things going on in the community, so we should try to find those things and bring that to the forefront because the media is always going to spread the negative. That’s expected. But we have to show the counterpoint to that.”
Lou Della Evans Reid served as Minister of Music at the Fellowship Missionary Baptist for fifty years. Here Evans is conducting the choir during a service to celebrate her retirement.
Photo of Bob Black by Matt Gibson IV
“Look for the essence of the folks that live in the community so people can know we’re folks like everybody else who are trying to make life as comfortable for ourselves and our children.” - Bob Black
Federal Bldg Plaza. Renisha James,9, lights a candle in memory of Dantrell Davis who was shot to death while on his way home from school, during a rally in the Federal Building Plaza sponsored by ‘HOPE’, which is headed up by her father, Minister Michael James, B.A. Theology
Liberty Baptist Church opened their doors to the community on the night Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated so people could have a place to mourn and comfort each other. It was April 1968.(Sun-Times)
As members of the KKK spoke on the steps of the Cook County court building in Skokie they were pelted by snow balls from demonstrators inn the crowd.
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Children enjoying their playtime at the 2019 Taste of Chicago
TASTE OF CHICAGO
STORY AND IMAGES BY ABENA SHARON DALE 7 /10/19- 7/5/19 GRANT PARK, CHICAGO -
It was a treat to be able to photograph this musical event at the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park’s Petrillo Music Band Shell. The taste of Chicago is the city’s largest outdoor food festival. The Taste never fails to deliver all star talent and this year was no different. The Sunday lineup featured Bilal, Meshell Ndegeocello and India Arie. Soul singer, Bilal, born Bilal Sayeed Oliver was in the zone singing marvelous ballads. He concluded with his hit ‘Soul Sista’. The incredible, jazzy, soulful, Meshell Ndegeocello, born Michelle Lynn Johnson was so cool and perfect. Meshell and her bass guitar brought the funk!
Meshelle Ndegeocello at the 2019 Taste of Chicago
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India Arie, was born India Arie Simpson. She is on her #Worthy Tour. Her performance was expectedly ‘Beautiful’, ’Wonderful’, and inspiring. India sang her earlier songs as well as tunes from her latest release “Worthy”.
Audience at the Taste of Chicago, enjoying featured artists Bilal.
Bilal performing at the 2019 Taste of Chicago
India Arie performing at the 2019 Taste of Chicago
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THE 30TH ANNUAL
AFRICAN FESTIVAL OF ARTS PHOTO’S BY DERICK TRIPLETT STORY BY SONJA HUGHES 8 /30/19- 9/2/19 WASHINGTON PARK, CHICAGO
The African Festival of Arts is an annual 4-day festival harvested around the African culture and filled with Afrocentric vibes. The aromatic air is populated with different spices and herbs that illuminate your taste buds, to partake in the many food vendors that fill the food court. Coming from the drum village, you will see children and adults mesmerized by the art of the drums and how the African diaspora is enthralled as one’s soul communicates by dancing in rhythm with the beat.
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One can expect storytelling and acrobats in the drum village as well. Shopping is done for exotic wear, hand made jewelry, exotic oils, fragrances and specialty hygiene products. The variety of entertainment is not something you’d want to miss. Local, national and international artists occupied different stages throughout the entire day. If you live in Chicago and especially on the south side, the African Festival of Arts should be a yearly ritual. CAAAP has been the official photographer for the last two years.
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PHOTOS BY LEVILYN CHRISS
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PHOTOS BY LARRY BRADLEY
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PHOTOS BY KAYE COOKSEY
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PHOTOS BY GERARD EVANS
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PHOTOS BY CALVIN MUHAMMAD
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PHOTOS BY CRYSTAL WILEY-BROWN
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PHOTOS BY BRENDA WOODS
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MASEQUA MYERS Departs role at South Side Community Center
PHOTO’S BY ISADOR HOWARD STORY BY SONJA HUGHES
Masequa Myers was the Executive Director of the Southside Community Art Center (SSCAC) for five years. A going-away party was thrown on September 13, 2019, in honor of her farewell. SSCAC is the oldest independently owned African American art center in the United States. Masequa has worn so many hats. She is an accomplished author and has a background in theatre, arts, and administration. Her goal was to have the center deemed as a National Treasure. Myers was instrumental in securing the two highest recognitions from the National Trust for Preservation in 2017 and a listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. The center will receive a grant of two million dollars, from the state of Illinois capital bill. This grant will assist with expenditures and to rejuvenate, and broaden the center for artists, youth and to help sustain the community to come.
There have been innumerable exhibits in which her relationship with artists and curators have brought worthy attention to the exhibits at the Center, like “Flowers in the Garden.” This exhibition was a tribute to the struggles and triumphs of the Black Woman, that broke attendance records with over 1900 visitors attending. Which hat will Masequa Myers wear next? Wait to see, while she enters the private sector with more Black Girl Magic! SSCAC preserves, conserves and promotes the legacy and future of African American art and artists while educating the community on the value of art and culture. It houses artwork from emerging artists to eminent artists. The center opened in 1940 and had many memorable visitors and residents. Photographer Gordon Parks had his first darkroom in the basement of the art center. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt spoke at the dedication of the South Side Community Art Center.
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THROUGH THE EYES OF
