Chester Higgins Jr.

“Viewed his job as a calling and the taking of photographs as a sacrament.”

“I just lumbered along, following The Spirit, following my interests. And that's what I still do.”

“My overall assignment was to create a visual encyclopedia of the life and times of people of African descent.”

“Being in Africa, I've discovered, is quite a relief for me because... [when I go, I'm] in the majority. I don't have to worry about people looking at my color and [I'm] a target, people not knowing me and they hate me. I've found that the whole stress of racism just lifts off your shoulder.”

“I wanted to have my images on the world stage.”

“This is what Rothstein trained me for.”

“I asked him, 'Was that my picture?' He said, 'Yes, that's your picture but you didn't know it. All this other stuff was competing with it and you didn't know what to zero in on.”

“He calls me over and says, 'Here, take a look.' I went and I looked and I was amazed.”

“The Spirit brought this man into my life, the door opens and here he is.”

“We were seen as potential arsonists, rapists or just thugs. It taught me that a picture never lies about the photographer.”

“We weren't seen as American citizens petitioning our government.”

“I picked up the camera out of love for my family. I did not have a long term plan with the camera. But what changed that is the civil rights movement.”

“They found a sense of agency in themselves that they hadn't seen before, that reaffirmed their sense of worthiness.”

“His eyes are closed and gradually his eyes open, he raises up his hands. As he's walking towards me and extending his hand and says, 'I come for you.”

“There's this Black man who's standing in a very calm, still position.”