Cecil Layne: A Chronicler of Harlem’s Soul Cecil Layne, born in New York City in 1911 and passing away in Atlanta in 1990, was more than just a photographer; he was a visual historian dedicated to capturing the vibrant, complex reality of African American life during the mid-20th century. His work, largely unseen for decades, now offers an invaluable window into a pivotal era of social change and cultural flourishing, particularly within the heart of Harlem and beyond. Layne’s legacy rests not in grand, sweeping narratives but in the intimate details he meticulously documented – faces, celeb…