From his storefront studio on Beale Street, Withers developed nearly 2 million images that helped define Black southern life in the mid-twentieth century—capturing everything from the daily celebrations of his beloved community, to the kings and queens of Memphis R&B, to the triumphs and tragedies of the civil rights movement.
But the push and pull of history is perhaps best illuminated by the photojournalist’s lesser known work: years as an informant for the FBI, the extent of which continues to spark fierce debate.