Alan B. Govenar Livres

Alonzo Jordan worked for forty years as a photographer in Jasper, Texas, a small town that was little known until the brutal murder there of a forty-nine-year-old African American named James Byrd by three white males on June 7, 1998. While Jordan died in 1984, his photographs offer new insight into the social and cultural milieu in which Byrd grew up and spent his entire life, but perhaps, more enduringly, illuminate the intrinsic power of the image to shape perception. Jordan’s photographs are windows into an unseen world. A barber by trade, he took up photography to fill what he perceived as a need in his community. He understood the ways the photographic image could imbue its subject with a greater sense of meaning and bolster self-esteem. Historian Alan Governar has been recovering and documenting the work of African American photographers for more than a decade. Working with Jordan’s widow, he has preserved the thousands of negatives and prints that Jordan produced over the course of his career. Jasper, Texas, which accompanies an exhibition at the International Center of Photography, presents a selection of Jordan’s work, documenting the everyday life of several generations of Jasper’s African American residents. Co-published with International Center of Photography, New York.

Focusing on the contributions of black photographers, this visual history captures over 200 images that document African American life in Texas, a subject often overlooked in mainstream photographic narratives. It highlights the evolution of community photography, showcasing personal and public moments that reflect pride and resilience. The book includes interviews with the photographers and features significant work from NAACP photographers, offering a rich portrayal of civil rights figures and countering prevalent media stereotypes.

Exploring the evolution of blues music, this book traces its origins from cotton fields and shotgun shacks to its global impact, highlighting its transcendent appeal across age and race. It specifically focuses on the rich blues scene in Texas, detailing the influential figures, cultural contexts, and the unique sounds that shaped the genre's development in the region.

This collection features firsthand narratives and oral histories that vividly depict the African American experience from slavery through emancipation and into the 20th century. It captures the struggles, resilience, and cultural evolution of African Americans, providing a powerful and personal insight into their historical journey. Each account contributes to a deeper understanding of the social and political challenges faced, as well as the enduring spirit of a community overcoming adversity.