As Black History Month comes to a close, we thought we would share with you a digest of some (but certainly not all!) of the many initiatives that have come across the transom over the past few weeks, with an emphasis on those organizations and projects that highlight unsung heroes and sheroes and invisible giants. As we continue to build Biografika, the platform for everyone to write their stories and the stories of those who matter to them, these are the kinds of organizations from whom we can learn a great deal and with whom we have formed (or would like to form) partnerships.
Invisible Giants (Géantes Invisibles) (Sénégal) was born from a desire to spotlight remarkable women quietly working for their communities' development, advocating for social change at grassroots levels. Whether hailing from Kaolack, Toubab Dialaw, St. Louis, or Ziguinchor, across Africa or its diaspora, these figures encompass diverse backgrounds—political or civil society, feminists, activists, or artists—yet share unwavering dedication to serving others. Through documenting their narratives, sharing their images, and hosting physical and virtual events, Invisible Giants aims to honor their impactful contributions, showcasing how seemingly ordinary women can serve as pillars within their communities, catalyzing positive change despite adversities. These women embody resilience, determination, and selflessness, enriching countless lives through their boundless love and generosity amidst their respective struggles.https://www.selmajubilee.com/. See: https://www.geantesinvisibles.com/en/geantes-invisibles/
Black Lunch Table (BLT) is a transformative archival endeavor committed to illuminating the narratives of Black individuals and their integral role in shaping cultural history. Over its 16-year tenure, BLT has diversified its platforms, including Wikipedia edit-a-thons. Through these initiatives, Black Lunch Table Wikimedians spearhead the creation and enhancement of Wikipedia articles spotlighting Black artists' lives and works, countering their marginalization in mainstream contemporary art discourse. Given Wikipedia's predominantly white and male editorship, estimated at 77% and 91% respectively, our efforts aim to democratize historical representation, empowering individuals to reclaim agency over their narratives. BLT's sessions, such as the BLT Photobooth and edit-a-thons, equip participants with the skills and resources to bridge Wikipedia's knowledge gaps and foster inclusive storytelling. See: https://www.blacklunchtable.com/
The (Un)Known Project (https://unknownprojecttrail.com/) uncovers and commemorates the identities and narratives of enslaved Black individuals in America and the global African diaspora. Through artistic initiatives, the project fosters learning, healing, and reconciliation. By encouraging participation in sharing names, stories, documents, and locations, they aim to construct a more comprehensive narrative of enslavement history in America. Explore the submitted information and interactive map to delve deeper here: https://unknownprojecttrail.com/trail/
Archiving The Black Web. The proliferation of the internet and social media, particularly among Black communities, presents significant opportunities for archivists aiming to capture the contemporary Black experience. However, despite the growth of web archiving tools and practices over the past twenty-five years, cost and accessibility barriers persist, hindering widespread engagement, particularly among Black collecting organizations. Additionally, web archiving has predominantly evolved within privileged networks, primarily in well-funded academic institutions and national libraries, perpetuating exclusionary practices. The Archiving the Black Web national forum advocates urgently for a more equitable and accessible web archiving approach to effectively document the diverse contributions and utilization of the internet by Black individuals. Recognizing Black people's historical engagement with technology, the forum seeks to uncover and integrate their significant role in shaping digital culture, fostering inclusivity within archival practices. See: https://www.archivingtheblackweb.org/
The HistoryMakers Digital Archive is a comprehensive resource dedicated to preserving and disseminating the untold stories of African Americans. Alongside video interviews, the archive includes oral histories, capturing the diverse experiences and contributions of Black individuals across various spheres. Developed by Carnegie Mellon University, this invaluable repository grants unparalleled access to thousands of African American narratives, offering insights into history, organizations, communities, and careers. By showcasing these stories, the archive presents a fuller and more accurate portrayal of Black history. See: https://www.thehistorymakers.org/
Oshúm and the Shades of Water
Memria has collaborated with Afro-Colombian storytellers in every cohort of VivaVoz.Org, the fellowship we created to support narrative projects about peacebuilding efforts in Colombia. In our current cohort, we selected Las Jaibas a collective of black, indigenous, and queer artists from Cali, in Colombia’s Pacific region. Their project, Oshúm and the Shades of Water navigates the historical and spiritual relationships that black communities have with rivers, which are understood as expanded territories that encompass nature, spirituality, and ancestry. Each of the ten episodes of the podcast delves into the life of a female or gender dissident community leader, their memories around water, and the way rivers flow into their rituals of birth, mourning, and daily life. The audio is accompanied by beautiful photographs of these leaders’ lives by the rivers. Las Jaibas launched the podcast in a balsada, a gathering of traditional riverboats and celebrated with alabaos, the ancestral chants of afrocolombian communities of the Pacífic. See: https://lajaibaproductora.cargo.site/
New Brunswick Black History Society, (https://www.nbblackhistorysociety.org/) established in June 2010, is committed to researching, analyzing, documenting, and preserving the history of Black communities in New Brunswick, Canada. Their objectives include collecting information on past and present Black residents, raising awareness of New Brunswick's Black history, fostering collaboration between the Black community and the public, and advocating for greater inclusion of Black history in the educational system of New Brunswick. Through these efforts, the society aims to ensure that the rich and diverse contributions of Black individuals to the province's history are recognized and celebrated.
The Black Women's Suffrage Digital Collection of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) is a collaborative effort aimed at providing digital access to materials documenting the pivotal roles and experiences of Black women in the Women’s Suffrage Movement and broader women’s rights and civic activism from the 1850s to the 1960s. The collection comprises various artifacts such as photographs, correspondence, speeches, publications, and oral histories, shedding light on the roots of women’s activism within Black communities and the ongoing struggle for voting rights. By drawing on archival materials from a vast network of institutions and fostering partnerships, the collection encourages exploration and dialogue among students, educators, and researchers, highlighting a significant yet often overlooked chapter in American history. See: https://blackwomenssuffrage.dp.la/
The Notable Kentucky African Americans (NKAA) website, established in September 2003, initially comprised approximately 200 biographical entries on African Americans in or from Kentucky. The site emerged from a recognized need for centralized information on lesser-known Kentucky African Americans. NKAA aimed to consolidate scattered data from various Kentucky resources, offering a comprehensive starting point for those seeking to learn about the contributions and achievements of African Americans in the state. This initiative stemmed from decades of inquiries at reference desks, indicating a demand for accessible information on Kentucky African Americans beyond the most renowned figures like Muhammad Ali or Georgia Powers. The Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (NKAA) serves as a finding aid, compiling brief descriptions of names, places, and events, along with sources for additional information. See: https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/