Black Photojournalism Exhibit Opens at The Carter Museum March 15

The exhibition highlights the groundbreaking role of Black photojournalists in documenting pivotal historical events and everyday lives of Black Americans.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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A Black Photojournalism exhibit featuring over 250 photographs by more than 60 photographers working across the United States between 1945 and the mid-1980s will open at The Amon Carter Museum of American Art (The Carter) in Fort Worth, Texas on March 15. The exhibition, organized by the Carnegie Museum of Art, celebrates the vital contributions of Black photojournalists in shaping how people saw themselves and their communities.

Why it matters

The exhibit provides a more comprehensive view of American artistic expression by highlighting the underrepresented stories and communities captured by Black photojournalists. Their work not only documented moments of social change but also celebrated the vibrancy of daily Black life, serving as both a record of history and a tool for empowerment.

The details

Black Photojournalism will be on view at The Carter from March 15 through July 5. The exhibition is arranged chronologically, with sections organized by decade from the 1940s to the 1980s. It features the work of photographers such as Kwame Brathwaite, Gordon Parks, Ming Smith, and Shawn Walker, whose photographs were published in groundbreaking Black-owned media outlets like the Afro American News, Atlanta Daily World, Chicago Defender, Ebony, and Pittsburgh Courier.

  • The Black Photojournalism exhibit opens at The Carter on March 15, 2026.
  • The exhibit will be on view through July 5, 2026.

The players

The Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Also known as The Carter, it is an art museum in Fort Worth, Texas that is committed to providing a more comprehensive view of American artistic expression.

Carnegie Museum of Art

The organization that organized the Black Photojournalism exhibition, which brings together the work of over 60 photographers working across the United States between 1945 and the mid-1980s.

Kwame Brathwaite

A photographer whose work is featured in the exhibit, known for documenting the Black is Beautiful movement in the 1960s.

Gordon Parks

A renowned photographer whose work is included in the exhibit, known for his powerful photographs documenting the civil rights movement and everyday life of Black Americans.

Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society (TCBHGS)

A partner organization that will work with The Carter to offer public events exploring the rich history of Black media in the Fort Worth community.

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What they’re saying

“Black Photojournalism continues the Carter's commitment to providing a more comprehensive view of American artistic expression. This exhibition not only celebrates the artistry and vision of these photojournalists but also amplifies the stories and communities that have often been underrepresented in the history of American media and art. We are grateful to Carnegie Museum of Art for organizing this exhibition and to the many photographers, publishers, and archives whose work allows us to share these powerful images with Fort Worth audiences.”

— Scott Wilcox, Interim Director of The Amon Carter Museum of American Art (focusdailynews.com)

“Black Photojournalism is a rich and unprecedented opportunity to see how Black photographers persistently and imaginatively captured Black life in the history-making decades of the post-World War II era. Carnegie Museum of Art has created an extraordinary experience for visitors that breaks new ground with a much fuller look than ever before at how Black life was represented in the vibrant Black press. A special feature will be the chance to see how well-known artists such as Kwame Brathwaite, Gordon Parks, Ming Smith, and Shawn Walker, among many, produced photographs for the pages of Black media outlets that have now achieved iconic status as works of art.”

— Charles Wylie, Curator of Photographs at The Amon Carter Museum of American Art (focusdailynews.com)

What’s next

The Amon Carter Museum of American Art and the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society (TCBHGS) will offer public events that explore the rich history of Black media in the Fort Worth community in conjunction with the Black Photojournalism exhibit.

The takeaway

The Black Photojournalism exhibit at The Carter Museum highlights the vital contributions of Black photojournalists in shaping how people saw themselves and their communities, transforming the media landscape in ways that continue to resonate today. The exhibit provides a more comprehensive view of American artistic expression by amplifying the stories and experiences of underrepresented communities.