Black Memorabilia
Black memorabilia sometimes referred to as Black Americana, are objects relating to African American history. They encompass objects with positive implications, civil rights commemoration and achievements by scholars, artists, musicians, athletes, politicians and other members of the black community.
Types of black memorabilia include artifacts collected from the beginning of slavery in the United States to the civil rights movement of the 1960s and everything in between. Collectibles include old advertisements depicting strong black characters such as old Aunt Jemima bottles and ads, old cookie jars and salt and pepper shakers, newspaper clippings during Rosa Parks trial, personal items once owned by Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X as well as memorabilia connected with all types of black celebrities such as concert tickets to a Josephine Baker concert.
The items in this category are endless. Today, however, historic artifacts connected to slavery are among the most desirable pieces of Black Memorabilia. These items include trade documents, shackles and identification tags as well as circulars and books. Other collectibles include signs that designate separate spaces for “colored” or “white,” are also highly sought pieces by collectors.
Many people fear that the preservation of Black Memorabilia prolongs racist prejudice, those who collect do so to ensure that America’s history isn’t forgotten. Regardless, of how history went down, Black Memorabilia is still a part of it.
