LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Chester Higgins, Jr. for special recog-
nition in observance of Black History Month

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain
extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their valued
contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Chester
Higgins, Jr. for special recognition in observance of Black History
Month; and
WHEREAS, A renowned photojournalist, Chester Higgins, Jr. was born in
November of 1946, and grew up in New Brockton, Alabama; in 1970, he
graduated from Tuskegee Institute with a Bachelor's degree in Business
Management; and
WHEREAS, After purchasing his first camera in 1968, Chester Higgins,
Jr. began to document the civil rights protests by black students at
Tuskegee, compiling his photographs under the title, "Student Unrest at
Tuskegee Institute"; and
WHEREAS, Chester Higgins, Jr. worked as a part-time photography
instructor at the New York University School of Fine Arts from 1975 to
1978, before beginning his illustrious career with THE NEW YORK TIMES in
1975; and
WHEREAS, Chester Higgins, Jr. has five books of photography to his
credit: THE BLACK WOMAN (1970), DRUMS OF LIFE (1974), SOME TIME AGO: A
HISTORIC PORTRAIT OF BLACK AMERICANS 1850-1950 (1980), FEELING THE SPIR-
IT: SEARCHING THE WORLD FOR THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA (1994), and ELDER
GRACE: THE NOBILITY OF AGING (2000)-- all which explore and celebrate,
in different ways, African American or African heritage, culture and
identity; and
WHEREAS, In addition to THE NEW YORK TIMES, the extraordinary photo-
graphs of Chester Higgins, Jr. have appeared in ART NEWS, NEWSWEEK,
FORTUNE, ESSENCE and ARCHAEOLOGY magazines; and
WHEREAS, For more than 25 years, Chester Higgins, Jr. traveled the
world, capturing photographs of the traditions, spirituality and daily
lives of people of African heritage; he has assembled a gallery of the
beautiful, the pensive, and the noble by seeking to apprehend his
subjects' inner light and capturing qualities of humor, elegance and
dignity; and
WHEREAS, During the course of his renowned career, Chester Higgins,
Jr. has had one-man exhibitions at the International Center of Photog-
raphy, the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of African Art, the Muse-
um of Photographic Arts, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the Field
Museum of Natural History, among others; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, his photographs have also been shown at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and in American embassy
galleries around the world; they are included in the permanent
collections of the New York Museum of Modern Art, the International
Center of Photography, and the Schomburg Center; and
WHEREAS, Chester Higgins, Jr. has been the recipient of countless
awards and accolades, some of which include, a United Nations Award, an
American Graphic Design Award, a Graphics Magazine Award, and an Art
Directors Club of New York Award; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Betsy, and his two
children, Chester III and Nataki, all of whom feel privileged to be a
part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Chester Higgins, Jr. has displayed
throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Chester Higgins, Jr. for special recognition in observance of
Black History Month; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Chester Higgins, Jr.