BLK MKT Vintage
Reclaiming Objects and Curiosities That Tell Black Stories
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- $18.99
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
This one-of-a-kind treasure trove of Black cultural ephemera, from the entrepreneurs behind the vintage shop BLK MKT Vintage, expands on their mission to curate vintage objects that tell Black stories and celebrate the contributions Black people have made to our American consciousness.
Jannah Handy and Kiyanna Stewart have spent years scouring piles, stacks, bookshelves, and dilapidated boxes in search of themselves and their history, Black history. Through their Brooklyn brick-and-mortar BLK MKT Vintage and online shop, they have uncovered tens of thousands of items including vintage literature, vinyl records, clothing, art, decor, furniture and more.
BLK MKT Vintage: Reclaiming Objects and Curiosities That Tell Black Stories invites readers into Handy and Stewart’s work and partnership as they pick, collect, curate, design, and reimagine futures for the objects of the past. Brimming with more than 300 photographs of vintage pieces of ephemera, the book is a beautiful, ephemeral object itself calling to mind a scrapbook or family album that has a surprise on every page whether that’s 1972 celluloid pins from Shirley Chisholm’s presidential campaign, early 1800’s hand-drawn maps of the African continent, or 1920’s bound yearbooks from various HBCUs. The book also explores the various concepts that ground Handy and Stewart’s work; interviews with Black archivists, artists, memory workers and collectors – including a foreword from Spike Lee; a look into their private collection of thousands of items they have discovered over the years; an explanation of the different players in the antiques and vintage world; and tips and tricks on how to begin your own collection and curate physical spaces that reflect your identity and experience.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Handy and Stewart debut with a vibrant coffee-table book exploring their work as founders of Brooklyn's BLK MKT Vintage store, which archives and sells historical "Black ephemera and material culture." They argue that vintage items showing the diversity and dignity of Black history are needed to counteract the racist representations that adorn so much white ephemera, and the plentiful photos of the authors' private collection fulfill that purpose splendidly. For instance, the authors shed light on the intersectional oppression of queer Black people by sharing mug shots of Black civilians arrested on charges related to their non-cis gender expression in 1940s and '50s Cleveland. Elsewhere, "Black ABCs" posters ("A is for afro") designed by Chicago educators for use in the city's classrooms attest to the Black Power era's concern with "pride, self-determination, and community." In interviews with Handy and Stewart, Black collectors discuss their favorite finds, as when Wisconsin shopkeeper Megan Dorsey recounts getting into a heated bidding war for a Black Victorian-era photo album. The featured items serve as a whistlestop tour through the past century of Black history, and the authors include useful tips for anyone who wants to start their own collection ("Don't give your price first" when haggling with a seller, they recommend). It's a joy to behold.
