WE MATTER documents the local protests set off by the death of George Floyd in 2020. United in solidarity, demonstrators throughout Chicago and the U.S. took to the streets to denounce the failures of systemic racism and colonialism and to fight against racial oppression and police brutality. The members of CAAAP and other Chicago photographers have captured these protests that have inspired demands for social policy change and economic accountability.

The exhibition, WE MATTER, validates that WE are intolerant of infrastructures that support racism in America. The word WE in the title represents the collective voices of protest.

A Brief History of the Chicago Alliance of African American Photographers

The Chicago Alliance of African American Photographers began 21 years ago when seven of Chicago's best photographers created a place for black photographers within the Chicagoland area to cultivate and celebrate black culture and curate diasporic photographic arts. The founding members include: Leslie Adkins, Bob Black, Martha Brock, Milbert O. Brown Jr., Terry Harris, Brent Jones and Lee Landry. CAAAP continues to increase its membership and create educational photography programs for the African-American Community.