Reneta Cherlise’s Black Archives; The Intersection Of Black History, Present, and Future.

History belongs to the victors, so we’ve been told. In many ways, this has proven true. American history is most often documented through the lens or perspective of the white victors. This holds true across the African diaspora. The ability to connect with one’s past and see nuanced representation is a gift.

It is the antidote to the trauma we see and experience. For every video you’ve seen of a black person taking their last breath, how many are shown of them laughing? For all the stats we see about black women's relationships, how many black weddings have we seen?

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Studio Museum, The California African American Museum, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, etc are places where black culture and history are well researched and beautifully displayed. Sadly these places are not accessible to all just based in their locations. A digital space is therefore vital.

BlackArchives.co is the remedy for this malaise. Founded in 2015, by Renata Cherlise,

Black Archives is a multimedia platform that brings a spotlight to the Black experience. Through an evolving visual exploration, Black Archives provides a dynamic accessibility to a Black past, present, and future.

Going beyond the norm, its lens examines the nuance of Black life: alive and ever-vibrant to both the everyday and iconic — providing insight and inspiration to those seeking to understand the legacies that preceded their own.

Our mission is to give voice to those stories under-told while providing authentic representation and inspiration to transformative growth of Black people everywhere.

Their growing collection highlights black lives across the diaspora.

Photography, video, drawings, interviews, and written accounts of moments in Black American History and everyday life are sourced from famous photographers like Gordon Parks, through submissions from everyday people and the public domain. The awareness of black achievements has survived attempts to diminish black contributions. Yet we do not always have to do the labor of proving our value. The every day, the seemingly ordinary acts of life must be highlighted.

For the past two years Black Archives has partnered with LinkNyc, -a collection of public, digital kiosks providing services such as free wifi to NYC residents- during black history month to display photos celebrating black heritage and life. It has been a boon to many New Yorkers to see themselves and their stories reflected in everyday life.

The LinkNYC is a very powerful collaboration. It serves as a reminder to black people that their existence is valid. Their worth lies not just in productivity but also within friendships, creating art, loving each other and merely being human.

The digital space is a breath, of collective awareness. A place where our shared histories across the diaspora have a home. It is a place of remembrance and insight.

Black Archives is also a teaching resource. There are so many important moments in black history that have been forgotten by the masses. They are presented in easily digestible Instagram posts with informative captions.

There are so many different forms of media that capture our attention, Having glimpses of relatable and nostalgic aspects of daily life in consumable doses at our fingertips is priceless.

Across the diaspora there are so many of us with short histories. We may never be able fully trace our heritage. We may never know the tribe we came from or if our lost family were fishermen or farmers, warriors or scholars.

There is a collective mourning in this. In the shared experience of forced journeys.

When sharing our personal stories, photos, videos and epherma we remind each other that we are connected and we are marking history. We are telling stories and remembering each other for simply being human.

Black archives is at the intersection of history because it documents and preserves black life. BA is at present, in addition to their Instagram, TikTok and variois collaborations; BA has a digital zine which brings together people living now and accepts submissions. Black Archives is the future because it is a space that will retain value for future generations as they look back connect and add more material to the archives.

Material culture has been on the rise. Pictures, videos and text can be placed within that category. Material culture is the physical aspect of culture. Therefore photographs and videos documenting black life are an important aspect of showcasing the black history and preserving black culture for the future.

BA recently partnered with Adobe for a “Living Archive” series spotlight black artists who are creating and celebrating their own archives and histories.

In 2021 and the future, curation is no longer relegated to museums or large cultural institutions. Digital curation breathes life and power into the public domain. Access and representation are attainable through such means.

BA has created a digital magazine available to purchase on their website. There are occasionally prints available for purchase as well. Support them by following their Instagram.

Over a year after I first featured BlackArchives they are still going strong and making moves. They were featured in Washington Post. Additionally Reneta Cherlise and BA recently announced a Black Archives photography puzzle collection is now available for purchase at Target!