5 Influential Black Photographers who Shaped History

How black photographers shaped history:

Black photographers have been hugely influential throughout the last century and a half, helping to capture iconic and empowering moments. Don Charles's window side photo of Malcolm X, is a great example of how black photographers have further represented and helped to express black culture.

James Van Der Zee was especially influential during the 'Harlem Renaissance' period and Deborah Willis is another highly influential black photographer who has and still plays an important role in the self-representation of black culture. She has achieved this by showing the unfiltered and beautiful nature of black culture and an example of this is shown through her 'hair saloon' photograph, which caught the attention of many large publications.

Black photography has and will continue to shape history, giving a voice to the unrepresented and providing self-confidence through powerful self-representation.

In honour of Black History Month, and the impact and influence black photographers have and will continue to have over history, we have put together an infographic of '5 influential black photographers who shaped (and continue to shape) history'. This infographic is nowhere near complete but this is our first attempt to showcase a few of the most influential black photographers.

For this infographic and blog the 5 influential black photographers we will focus on are:

• Deborah Willis
• Don Hogan
• Moneta Sleet Jr
• Gordon Parks
• James Van Der Zee.

Some more information about the photographers...

Deborah Willis, the influential black photographer, helped shape history.

Don Hogan Charles, the influential black photographer, helped shape history.

Moneta Sleet Jr, the influential black photographer, helped shape history.

Gordan Parks, the influential black photographer, helped shape history.

James Van Der Zee, the influential black photographer, helped shape history.