An Evening with Jim Alexander: A Fireside Chat on Art, Activism, and Legacy

Join us for a powerful and intimate evening with Jim Alexander, award-winning documentary photographer, curator, activist, and teacher whose lens has captured more than five decades of Black culture, music, and the fight for human rights.

Known as a “participant observer,” Alexander has built one of the most significant visual archives of African American life — a collection now housed at Emory University’s Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library. His photographs have been exhibited nationally and internationally, appearing in collections at the Smithsonian, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Auburn Avenue Research Library, Hammonds House, and beyond.

In this fireside chat moderated by Charles Robinson, Alexander will reflect on his extraordinary journey — from his time in the U.S. Navy and his pivotal mentorship with Gordon Parks, to documenting the aftermath of Dr. King’s assassination, and his role in shaping Atlanta’s cultural and artistic landscape. He will also share stories behind the lens, the philosophies that guide his work, and his enduring love for his people.

This is a rare opportunity to engage with a living legend whose artistry and activism continue to inspire generations.