I have friends who are antique dealers. Black Americana represents a small part of their massive collection. As an African American woman, I was shocked and offended that my white friends would have such pieces in their home.
Today, I own Black Americana as well. I fell in love with it. Why?
Black Americana is African American memorabilia that was produced in the 20th century, typically between 1920 and 1960, but it can be older. It often depicts black people with exaggerated lips, wide eyes, handkerchiefs on their heads, picking cotton or doing other forms of menial labor that African Americans were relegated to do. It can be considered shocking and offensive to anyone who does not consider themselves a racist.
The interesting thing is, many collectors of Black Americana, like me, are Black. As AuctionWally, an auctioneer and appraiser who is white, writes, “I remember when I was breaking into the business, being shocked at seeing a large display of BA at an auction. I couldn’t believe the auction house would sell such a collection of denigrating history out in the open. That evening most of the winning bidders of those lots were African Americans. From that point on I’ve tried to never judge a collectible as anything other than a piece of history.”
Why do I buy it? Every African American will have their individual reasons for collecting Black Americana. It used to be okay for a white person to own these items back when they were made. Blacks had fought for equal rights, but were not at the level in American society that we enjoy now. Today, turning the tables on our oppressive past by collecting Black Americana is a way for me to appreciate my heritage and our struggles.
I buy Black Americana because I love being black and because I appreciate the beauty of black people. As Pamela Wiggins writes, in her article Living with Black Americana, “What matters is how these objects make you feel today. If you associate them with discomfort, you can certainly choose not to own them. If you appreciate them for their historical value and collectible nature, that’s another matter entirely.”
What are some of my favorite Black Americana pieces? One of them is my cast iron Dinah mechanical bank. Another are my Black Americana dish towels that are in great shape given the fact that they were created in the 1920’s. I love my Black Americana Gold Dust, unopened, washing powder and scouring cleanser containers, too.
It is important to note that not all pieces that look like Black Americana are really vintage. In addition to the pieces I own, like the ones I mentioned above that are indeed old, I also own reproductions. I buy things because I like them, whether they are old or not. However, if you want pure Black Americana, make sure you are dealing with a reputable antique dealer or make sure you know how to spot the genuine from the fake. If you’re going to buy your Black Americana online, such as on eBay, without seeing it “up close and personal” first, you’ll need to be careful if you want the real thing.
Sources:
AuctionWally
Pamela Wiggins
