John H. White (photojournalist) facts for kids
John H. White (born in 1945 in Lexington, North Carolina) is a famous American photojournalist. This means he tells stories using pictures. He won a very important award called the Pulitzer Prize in 1982 for his amazing work.
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John White's Early Life
When John H. White was nine years old, something important happened. A teacher told him he might work on a garbage truck because he was slow in math. But his father gave him great advice. His dad told him to always try his best. He also said to look for the best in other people. If he did work on a garbage truck, his dad said, just make sure he was the driver! White says this moment changed his life. It taught him to always aim high and do his best.
How John White Started Photography
John White's father also helped him start his photography journey. When John was 14, his church burned down. His father asked him to take pictures of the damage. He also took photos as the church was rebuilt. White says this first job taught him to focus on "photo stories." This means telling a whole story through a series of pictures.
Working as a Photojournalist
After working for the Chicago Daily News, White joined the Chicago Sun Times in 1978. He worked there until May 2013. Besides taking photos, White also teaches young photographers. He teaches photojournalism at Columbia College Chicago. He also used to teach at Northwestern University.
In the 1970s, White worked on a special project called DOCUMERICA. This project was for the Environmental Protection Agency. He took pictures of Chicago and its African American community. His photos showed the challenges people faced. But they also showed their strong spirit and pride.
"Through the Eyes of Blackness" Exhibit
In 1973, John White and three other African American photojournalists taught photography. They taught at the South Side Community Art Center in Chicago. They also put on an art show there. It was called "Through the Eyes of Blackness." This important exhibit was shown again fifty years later. It reopened on September 16, 2023, at the same place.
Awards and Recognition
John White won the Pulitzer Prize for Photojournalism in 1982. He won it for his "consistently excellent work on a variety of subjects." This means he always took amazing photos of many different things. He was also chosen to be a photographer for the 1990 project Songs of My People.
White has won many other awards too. He won three National Headliner Awards. He was the first photographer to join the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame. The Chicago Press Photographer Association named him Photographer of the Year five times. In 1999, he received the Chicago Medal of Merit.
Hal Buell, who used to lead the Associated Press Photography Service, said something special about White. He noted that White is one of the best at capturing "everyday vignettes." This means he is great at taking pictures of small, everyday moments that tell a story.
White has published a book about Cardinal Bernardin. He also lives by three important words: faith, focus, and flight. He explains, "I'm faithful to my purpose, my mission, my assignment, my work, my dreams. I stay focused on what I'm doing and what's important. And I keep in flight—I spread my wings and do it."
