Document Type

presentation

Disciplines

Library and Information Science

Abstract

How can we best tell the story of our institution’s racist past? Two uncoordinated exhibitions about the racist past at a public research university happened in the same month. The first exhibit commemorates the direct action taken by Black and Brown students to challenge structural racism in higher education by sitting in at the library on April 22, 1974. The second highlights a racist incident against Asian American students on December 3, 1987, and its repercussions. Shared from the perspective of someone unfamiliar with archival materials, this presentation will address the challenges of invisibility in the archives and exhibiting a document-based history record. We hope to examine similar incidents and lessons from our organization’s past and understand how it fits as a part of a larger narrative.

In the quest to confront and understand the complex history of racism within educational institutions, libraries play a pivotal role. Archival materials, often silent witnesses to the past, hold the power to tell stories that have long been overshadowed by dominant narratives. This presentation delves into the heart of archival storytelling, examining two uncoordinated exhibitions that brought to light the racist history of a public research university.

The first exhibition commemorates the courageous sit-in by Black and Brown students on April 22, 1974, a direct action that challenged the structural racism ingrained in higher education. The second exhibition casts a spotlight on a harrowing incident against Asian American students on December 3, 1987, exploring its enduring impact. These exhibitions, though separate, share a common thread: the struggle to make visible the invisible stories within the archives.

From the perspective of a novice in archival navigation (a business librarian!), this presentation will confront the challenges of working with archival materials. It will address the invisibility of marginalized communities in historical records and the difficulties in presenting a document-based history. The aim is to not only recount these specific events but to weave them into the larger tapestry of our organization’s history, drawing parallels and contrasts with similar incidents.

Through this examination, we hope to illuminate the broader narrative of racial struggles and triumphs. We will explore how libraries can serve as beacons of truth and reconciliation, using their collections to foster dialogue, understanding, and healing. By reckoning with our past, we pave the way for a more equitable and inclusive future, demonstrating the library’s commitment to catalyzing social change.

This presentation seeks to contribute to the ongoing conversation about the role of libraries in engaging communities of color, advocating for equity, and combating racism. It is a call to action for libraries to harness the power of their archives to tell the whole story of their institution’s past, warts and all, as a step towards a more just society.

Comments

Part of REFORMA Northeast Chapter 20th Annual Joint Mini-Conference: https://sites.google.com/view/20th-annual-joint-mini-confere

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