Black archives: a photographic celebration of Black life

Abstract

"Renata Cherlise's family loved capturing their lives in photographs and home movies, sparking her love of archival photography. Following in her family's footsteps, Cherlise established Black Archives, which presents a nuanced representation of Black people across time living vibrant, ordinary lives. Through the platform, many have discovered and shared images of themselves and their loved ones experiencing daily life, forming multidimensional portraits of people, places, and the Black community. These photographs not only tell captivating stories, they hold space for collective memory and kinship. Black Archives is a stunning collection of timeless images that tell powerful, joyful stories of everyday life and shed light on Black culture's dynamic, enduring influence through the generations. The images showcase reunions, nights out on the town, parents and children, church and school functions, holidays, big life events, family vacations, moments at home, and many more occasions of leisure, excitement, reflection, and pride. Featuring more than three hundred images that spotlight the iconic and the candid, Black Archives offers a nuanced compendium of Black memory and imagination."-- Back cover.

Contents

The foundation: keeper of stories. Handwritten stories -- Pictures within pictures -- Life between life, in black and white -- Things we leave behind -- Interiors: holding space and keeping time. Sounds of Blackness -- Holding joy, love, and tenderness -- Family and studio portraits -- Youth -- Family gatherings -- Spirituality -- Moments of rest and leisure -- Exteriors: to be witnessed. Style -- Landscapes and outdoors -- The front porch -- In uniform -- Poses with cars -- A good time.