A R C H I T E C T U R E
Preserving Black Historical Sites
African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund showcases history by preserving Black historical sites. You can browse their archive of locations like Nina Simone’s childhood home, Pauli Murray’s house, and more here. John and Alice Coltrane’s house is one of the sites that was a struggle to save from demolition and now needs repairs. The Coltrane Home is an organization that withgolds the couple’s legacy through community outreach and re-opening their home as a museum.
In conjunction, this month Architectural Digest published, When Architecture and Racial Justice Intersect with words from the executive director of African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, Brent Leggs. He urgently states, “If we want to educate future generations about Black history in America, we need to work to preserve Black historic sites now.” I learned from this article that Black preservationists in the U.S amount to 1%, including Leggs and that of the 95,000 entries on the National Register of Historic Places only 2% focus on the experience of Black Americans. There are many ways we can show support listed throughout the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s website. It’s also encouraged to research locations in your surrounding area to help maintain and nominate as a historic place.
A R T
Black Liberation Through Art
“Visually, I understood at an early age the power of the image to control or to liberate. I don’t want to engage that binary exclusively because I think it is more complex than that, but I do understand energetically how people can be transformed by the image, not only in the art world but on a larger scale. Whenever we speak truth to power through the image, it is a language.” - Artist Lyle Ashton Harris
I sourced this quote from the Dazed article, How Artists Have Championed the Black Liberation Movement Over a Century that debuts context, references, and history. Galleries, museums, and the institution’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement have been sorely minimal, to no surprise. Despite the discrimination upheld by the art world, there are plentiful alternative resources, artists, to learn from. As examples, I’ve listed two artists below that have been influential in dismantling the exclusive and racist portrayal of American history.
Gordon Parks ( 1912 - 2006 )
Parks is known for describing his camera as a weapon against social injustice. He is also commemorated as the first Black photographer on staff at Life magazine. Parks’ work is resurfacing, at large, once again, with references in various articles and through social media posts. Additionally, The Gordon Parks Foundation, Museum of Modern Art, and Steidl have republished his 1957 photo-essay The Atmosphere of Crime in the form of a book.
“The story, titled “The Atmosphere of Crime,” was both prescient and incisive, the text that accompanied it a systematic dismantling of the dubious statistics that fueled white Americans’ growing sense that an immense crime wave was upon them. And Parks’s pictures? Cinematic, intense, and exquisitely composed, they did nothing less than revolutionize what a “crime photo” could look like. But they also exposed issues that would animate mass protests years later: the trip-wire tension between race and law enforcement, the relationship between poverty and mass incarceration, the gulf between what we see and what we think we see.”
From Bill Shapiro’s article Gordon Parks: The Crime Photographer Who Saw Color published by The Atlantic.
Jacob Lawrence ( 1917 - 2000 )
Lawrence’s artworks were influenced by his upbringing in Harlem. He was dedicated to portraying the stories and bodies that were not recorded in history books. Part of his process was thorough research before putting paint to canvas. Later in life, he became an art professor at the University of Washington.
In this short documentary, there are insightful interview clips with Lawrence. He states that while the Black experience is often overpassed as not important, the Black experience is the American experience, the human experience. In summary, “You bring to painting your own experience”, a quote he is well known for. One of his most celebrated series is the rendition of the Harlem Renaissance, a blossoming of Black culture due to the migration of families from Southern states to the North in relocation towards a better life.
D E S I G N
TRNK features design objects for the home while TRNK Editions supports emerging artists by creating and distributing limited edition prints. This month TRNK curated, MIEN a digital exhibition featuring seven queer BIPOC artists. For the month of June 100% of the proceeds from MIEN were donated to Ali Forney Center, an NYC based non-profit that provides shelter and healthcare services to LGBTQ+ youths.
F A S H I O N
To hold retailers accountable in their support of Black businesses, the 15 Percent Pledge has was created by Aurora James, founder of Brother Vellies. The mission statement reads, “Black people in the U.S. make up nearly 15% of the population. We’re asking brands to pledge 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses.” Thus far, Rent the Runway and Sephora have signed the pledge. The organization also calls on businesses such as Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods to do the same.
In an interview with Forbes, James explains why she chose to take action. When asked what she would like consumers to realize when purchasing from Black-owned businesses, she states that “supporting Black-owned businesses helps secure financial longevity and economic equality in the long term.”
F I L M
Produced by Dress Code, Emory Douglas: The Art of The Black Panthers is a short documentary led by Douglas. He explains the conception and roles of his printed works for the Black Panthers beginning in the 1960s. Furthermore, I appreciate the history I learned from watching this interview. He is still active today. His work rings importance continually.
L O C A L
A non-exhaustive list of Dallas-based organizations helping to fight racial injustices that we can learn from and stand by are:
Abounding Prosperity serves the Black LGBTQ+ community in Dallas. Abounding Prosperity provides mobile testing and resources for sexually active individuals, provide counseling, safe spaces, and more. Here is the option to donate. If you are interested in other options, contact them directly.
Dallas TRHT provides resources and knowledge regarding inclusivity and race within Dallas and beyond. TRHT’s mission is to uproot an embedded hierarchy within American culture by addressing the source of the issues and lending a truthful voice. If you are unable to donate, you can join to be involved.
“We aim to liberate Oak Cliff from systematic racism” - For Oak Cliff. This organization focuses on policy change, education, counseling, creating culture through art and community building. For Oak Cliff has also worked to provide notably useful COVID-19 resources for the community. $15 donations provide food for a family of four, consider donating what you can. On their volunteer page, there are many options to choose how you spend your time helping.
MINT’s mission is to mentor, inspire, nurture, and train. MINT also provides healthy food options through their weekly pantry, currently for all residents in Dallas county. You can sign up to volunteer and donate.
The Afiya Center provides resources for Black women and girls to better understand their reproductive health. There are many programs carried by The Afiya Center that involves community outreach, education, and mentorship. They also provide science-based and legal information regarding women’s reproductive health. Here is the form to volunteer. Here is the link to donate.
The Stewpot provides food and resources for those experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty in Dallas. There are options to donate, volunteer, and sponsor a meal. They also have a great art program where you can purchase from the artists The Stewpot supports and donate supplies. Their horticultural therapy utilizes counseling with the use of plants.
L I T E R A T U R E
The link below is an important perspective and voice in understanding how White people’s willingness to be active on social media, or protests, or book clubs is not sustainable or, enough to fight racism in America.
When Black People Are In Pain, White People Just Join Book Clubs by Tre Johnson for The Washington Post
T H I N G S
I’ve really enjoyed this month’s purchases from Black-owned businesses.
Intimacy Calling is a smooth and earthy floral scent with hints of orchid rose, ylang ylang, black amber, and Mandarin. This candle is by Olphactory Candles, a company influenced by the mood of jazz. I look forward to adding more of their products to my collection, when you browse, don’t hesitate to purchase, they justifyingly sell out fast! Oh, and they’re Dallas-based too.
MAW SUPPLY is a Houston-based online vintage shop, where I got the lovely dress pictured above.
Gratus Candles is also a Dallas-based candle company. They have a wide range of scents, I went with the Sicily Sage which is bright and clean.
Peak and Valley carries wellness blends made of high-quality ingredients with a focus on adaptogens. Nadine Josephen, the founder and CEO was inspired by her neuroscientific studies on stress. Adaptogens are blends of mushrooms and herbs that help your body adapt to stress. To help with focus and memory, I got the Nourish My Brain Blend. I’ve been incorporating it into my smoothies, it has a nice peanut-buttery taste. It takes time to notice differences when using herbal medicine, for now, I have noticed an energy boost when I use the product.
My intention with the Pure Matcha from Glode was for lattes but, I’m enjoying how my green tea ice cream turned out even more. Glode focuses on using superfoods to support skin and body health.
Lastly, I also purchased Patchouli Bar and Thyme Peace bar soaps by Unique & Natural, a Dallas based personal care shop.