Today in our History – August 7, 1935 - James Alexander was born in Waldwick, New Jersey
GM – LIF – Today’s American Champion is an American documentary photographer, photojournalist, activist, and teacher who is best known for being a “Participant Observer” and his photographs of human rights and black culture. In 1995, he was the first artist selected in the annual “Master Artist” program conducted by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs. He would later be inducted into The HistoryMakers in 2006.
Remember – “That sounds good James, but your ass is going to starve; nobody is going to pay you just to run around shooting anything that interests you.” – Gordon Parks
Today in our History – August 7, 1935 - James Alexander was born in Waldwick, New Jersey as one of 12 children to auto mechanic David Alexander, and Frances James Alexander. He attended Waldwick Public School and Ramsey High School. He grew up during a time where the opportunities for Blacks in America to economically advance were few.
In 1964 he moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey from Paterson where he lived following his discharge from the U.S. Navy and launched his professional career as a freelance photographer. Alexander completed courses for a certificate in business organization and management at Rutgers University, while he worked as general manager of a newspaper delivery service. He also enrolled at New York Institute of Photography (NYIP) and earned a degree in commercial photography in 1968. He later became a part of NYIP Famous Alumni.
During the height of the human rights movement, Alexander began documenting the anti-war and civil rights movement, and later the local and national responses to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's assassination in 1968. His photographs included: marches, rallies, conferences, meetings, festivals, concerts, and Black life as a whole. He entitled the body of work Spirits/Martyrs/Heroes and continued to add photographs to the collection over the ensuing years. The collection ranges from the 1960s to the present. It encompasses a variety of subjects from the human and civil rights movement, politics, music, art, and everyday individuals who were consistent in their pursuit of equality.
On a bus trip from Ridgewood, New Jersey to New York, Alexander met Eric Maristany. They both were traveling with cameras, so conversation between the two sparked. Maristany worked at a filmstrip company in Ridgewood and invited Alexander to visit the studio. After visiting the studio a few days later, he met owner Richard Bruner, and staff of Bruner Productions; producers of educational and civil rights movement filmstrips. He became a volunteer at the studio after gaining respectability as a documentary photographer. Alexander began freelancing at Bruner Productions.
Alexander met and became friends with documentary photographer Gordon Parks in 1968. Parks was influential in the direction of his photographic career. "A photo can be taken to build, or it can be taken to destroy, and that decision rests in the hands of the photographer." Alexander recognized how his photographs could affect the awareness of the subject and the viewer.
Moved to dedicate ten years of his life and work to documenting human rights and the Black experience; he shared this intention with Parks. Parks said, “that sounds good James, but your ass is going to starve; nobody is going to pay you just to run around shooting anything that interests you.” So Alexander decided to teach others the art of photography while shooting documentary work on the side. Parks approved his decision and told him, “That sounds better." Fifty plus years have surpassed since having that conversation with the late Gordon Parks, and Alexander continues his documentary work.
Alexander has mentored and taught photography at various colleges and universities such as Yale University, Emory University, Fulton County Arts Council, Spelman College, TRIO and Upward Bound Programs at Clark College (better known as Clark Atlanta University), Morris Brown College, and Atlanta Metropolitan College.
Atlanta became home to Alexander and his family in 1976 after he accepted a position as the director of audiovisual communications for the Atlanta Office of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. This was a non-profit established to save, protect, and expand the landholdings of Black family farmers in the south.
At Clark College (better known as Clark Atlanta University), Alexander served as Photographer-in-Residence from 1984–1990. During his time at Clark Atlanta, Alexander established a mentoring program where he helped students who worked with the campus newspaper, yearbook, and various types of photography. He also documented meetings and events leading up to the historic ribbon cutting for the AU/CC CAU merger.
The Neighborhood Arts Center (NAC) originated in 1975, and became the heart of Atlanta's Black Arts Movement. The center was constructed in the image of Atlanta's first African American Mayor, Maynard Jackson. In 1977, Alexander became photographer in residence at The NAC. He was proactive in maintaining the historical values The NAC instituted. In 1978, Alexander documented a historic visit to the NAC by Romare Bearden, a legendary artist and author, and his wife Nanette Bearden.
From 1996 – 1999, Alexander was a coordinator and instructor of the youth photography program called “As Seen by Teens” photography and journalism program. As Seen by Teens was a summer photojournalism program designed to give young students a better sense of themselves and their communities. Implemented by Nexus Contemporary Art Center, the program encouraged creativity while it challenged students to learn and show self-respect, achieve goals, and gain a marketable skill.
From 1998 – 2000, Alexander was director of Arts for All gallery and Community Events. VSA arts of Georgia (formally Arts for All) provided arts education and cultural arts opportunities for Georgians with disabilities, or who are disadvantage or institutionalized.
The love for education, reading, and black culture led Alexander to be a co-founder of First World Bookstores in Atlanta, GA during 1988. The store specialized in predominately African American books, gifts, and art; which eventually expanded to five bookstores in the metropolitan area until 1994.
Alexander has been instrumental in the founding of several organizations of professional photographers, including the Photographers’ Collective, the Atlanta Photographers Group, and Zone Three. He is a founding member and past executive vice chairman of the National Black Media Coalition, and completed two terms as president of African Americans for the Arts, (AAFTA). Alexander is also a member of the American Photography Archives Group, (APAG) which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit resource organization for individuals who own or manage a privately held photography archive. Alexander belongs to the National Alliance of Artists from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (NAAHBU) which is an organization founded on May 19, 2000 on Morris Brown College campus in Atlanta, GA. The organization features artists that have taught, studied, or worked in art departments and programs at HBCUs. Research more about this great American Champion and share it with your babies. Make it a champion day!