In March of 1999, on a cold winters day, seven Chicago photographers; Leslie Adkins, Bob Black, Martha Brock, Milbert Brown, Terry Harris, Brent Jones, and Lee Landry organized and founded The Chicago Alliance of African-American Photographers (CAAAP). The idea behind CAAAP was to do something that had never been done in the African-American community and with that, the Director, Milbert O. Brown, Jr., set out to assemble some of the nation's best photographers for a photographic project that was to become known as, "The Journey".

From the inception, the founding members' vision was to document African-American culture throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, at the beginning of the new century. This was similar to the Farm Security Administration (FSA) photographic project. During the summer of 1999, the idea for the landmark and historical project entitled, "The Journey: The Next 100 Years," was then conceived. At the stroke of 12:00 midnight, January 1st, year 2000, CAAAP photographers, with cameras in hand, began documenting virtually every facet of the Greater Chicago's, African-American communities: From North to South and East to West, the young, the elderly, male and female, gay and straight, richer, poorer, from the problematic to the progressive. Throughout the entire year of 2000, it became our job, our sworn duty to tell it like we see it. African-Americans documenting African-Americans. To bring out the greatest in the culture. To bring out the best in ourselves. To present an accurate view and to accomplish new heights.

After the completion of the project, we selected the venues to feature the exhibit, first of which was the South-Side Community Art Center during, Black History Month, 2001. The Center has a long history of presenting exhibitions, featuring African-American photographers. Including the works of the legendary, Gordon Parks. Also in February 2001, riding on the heals of that exhibit, "The Journey: The Next 100 Years" was showcased at the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Chicago. The MCA is the largest gallery in the city of Chicago and displays works from exhibitors, world wide.

"The Journey: The Next 100 Years" is a loving and sensitive self-portrait of the African-American culture, presented through the eyes of the more than 75 photographers, creating remarkable images of the arts, the families, the lives, the religion and social events.