Howard T. Cash (born 1953) is an African-American photographer whose work focuses on Africa and the African Diaspora. My photographs are about, “Joy, Love, and Celebration life within the beauty of ‘Universal Blackness,’ on a bridge, easily connecting Africa to Africans in the Diaspora. Telling the world wonderful stories about our lives is an honor. The essence of life is not what you do for yourself, but also how well you can improve the lives of others!”

Being selected to participate in Operation Crossroads Africa’s program in 1978 led me to Ghana and the following year to Nigeria. In 1979, I began my professional photojournalism career covering stories for the Mushin and Ajegunle Standard, Concord Group of Newspapers, Silverbird Productions, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ophelia Magazine, the Guardian Newspaper, and The Associated Press.

Some of my assignments included news and feature photojournalism, magazine and album covers of: Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and the Egypt ’70 Band, Pope John Paul II Visit to Ghana in 1980, and later to Nigeria in ‘82. I’ve also covered the official 1980 State Visit of American Vice-President Walter Mondale and the ’83 State Visit of Vice-President George H. Bush and in accordance with Presidential State Visits of President Chun Doo Hwan of South Korea in 1982, President Humberto Calderon Berti of Venezuela and Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gadaffi in 1983 for The Guardian Newspaper.

Upon my return to America in 1984 I focused my lens on personal assignments covering the African Diaspora such as: “African Dance in Slow Motion,” “The Spiritual Art of Dance,” “Drumming and Dancing in New York City,” “Sunday, Sunday in NYC,” “The Gullah-St. Helena Island,” “Rebuilding Our Lives After Hurricane Katrina,” “Unions, Reunions and Block Parties,” “The Uptown Dance Academy” etc.

In the summer of 2015, my work, under its new Executive Director, Dr. Khalil Muhammad was welcomed into the Permanent Collection of Photographs and Prints Division of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture“My fine art and documentary photography calls for a conversation in threes: first with myself, second with my audience and finally with history.”

A brief look at my professional photographic resume:

Radio Interviews and Filmography:

• 2024: “Wisdom Wednesday with Guest + Professional Photographer Howard T. Cash:” Ron Foster/ TBD 02.14.24 (YouTube)

• 2020: “Corrinne’s Picks-Howard Cash Interview Part 2:” Corrine Basabe/YouTube

• 2012: “Changing Lenses: The Art of Photography,” The Saging Baby Boomer Show and their Changing Perspectives as they Mature,” (Washington, D.C.)

• 2012: “When Happiness Enters our Lives,” Taboo Talk, (Blogtalkradio) (Bronx, NY)

• 2007: “A Conversation with Howard T. Cash & Marcia Fingal: Hurricane Katrina,” Wilmer Jennings Gallery, YouTube (New York, NY)

Past Selected Solo Exhibitions:

• 2022: “Joy, Love and Celebration,” Strivers’ Row Gardens Art Gallery, Harlem, NY

• 2020: “Celebrating the Spirit of, Nigeria, Ghana and African-Americans-Photography by Howard T. Cash,” ArtSteps Virtual Exhibition (Online)

• 2010: “Fela: The Artist-The Man,” Canvas, Paper and Stone Gallery, (Harlem, NY)

• 2004: “Dance with Me,” MetLife, (Harlem, NY)

• 2002: “Up from the Gullah,” MetLife, (Harlem, NY)

• 2000: “Celebrating the Spirit of Nigeria,” Countee Cullen Library, (Harlem, NY)

Selected Group Exhibitions:

• 2025: “A Photographer’s State Of Mind” Bronx Art Space (The Bronx, NY)

• 2024: “Black Life” The Point (Bronx, NY)

• 2024: “LONG JOURNEY FORWARD: BLACK MEN IN PASSAGE” (Manhattan, NY)

• 2022: “Fela Anikulapo-Kuti-Rebellion Afrobeat,” Philharmonie de Paris, (Paris, France)

• 2020: “Visions 1020,” Wilmer Jennings Gallery, (New York, NY)

• 2018: “The Black Panther Party,” Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) (New York, NY)

• 2011: “Harlem Views: Diasporan Visions,” Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, (Harlem, NY)

• 2006: “Saving Grace: Rebuilding Our Lives After Hurricane Katrina,” Wilmer Jennings Gallery (Manhattan, NY)

• 2003: “This is Lagos,” Skoto Gallery, (New York, NY)

• 2000: “Committed to the Image: A Half Century of Black Photographers in America,” Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, NY)

E-Book by Howard T. Cash

 “Love is Alive,” published in 2023

Awards and Distinctions:

• 2024: “LONG JOURNEY FORWARD: BLACK MEN IN PASSAGE,” Co-Curator, Wilmer Jennings Gallery (Manhattan, NY)

• 2015: “Inclusion into the Permanent Prints Collection of Prints,” Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, (Harlem, NY)

• 2005: “Speaking of the Bronx: Blurred Boundaries,” (Washington, D.C.) Congress of the United States Recognition Letter

• 2004: “Zoom,” Bronx High School for the Visual Arts, Instructor and Curator, Exhibition, (Bronx, NY)

• 2002: “Portraits and Conversations 9/11,” New York State Senate, Liberty Award, (Bronx, NY)

• 2000: “Celebrating the Spirit of Nigeria,” Consulate General of Nigeria, Nigeria House, Commendation, (New York, NY)

Overseas Experience:

• 1978: Operation Crossroads Africa, Volunteer, (Accra, Ghana)

• 1979- ‘84: Freelance Photographer, (Lagos, Nigeria)

• 1981: C.E.D.U.S.T. Central France, Photographic Workshop, (Paris, France)

• 1982- ’84: Stringer for The Associated Press, (London, England)

• 1986: Coverage of the Peace Conference in Libya, (Tripoli, Libya)

Mr. Cash was the first American photographer to freelance in Lagos, Nigeria (’79-’84). He no longer takes on commercial assignments but mentors younger photographers navigating the complex levels of the photographic industry and is involved with the Black Photographers Collective 501 (c)(3) and the 2040-’25 World Photography Day celebrations in Brooklyn, NY.

His award-winning photographs can be found in private, corporate, and museum collections.

Mr. Cash says, “His fine art and documentary photography calls for a conversation in threes: first with myself, second with my audience, and finally with history.”