Objects revealed
“Have you seen the Roman coin?”
We have selected a range of outstanding objects, artefacts, and ephemera from the Black Cultural Archives collection, which were taken on an iPhone just before lockdown.
We need your help to tell us more.
The objects in this online collection reveal significant aspects of global Black history and material culture dating from the first to the 21st centuries. These global connection are important in our understanding of the experiences of Black people in the UK.
Through this digital exhibition, we want to hear about your connections with the objects. Help us find the makers and crafters whose names we do not know.
We want to thank Historic England, whose support made this exhibit possible.
“In our first phase of exploring the archive, we acknowledge the dedicated support of volunteers, individuals, and organisations who donated and helped build the collection.”
— Sandra Shakespeare, Curator
For our second phase we want to spotlight objects that offer new possibilities for interpretation. This includes objects outside of this selection that some people may encounter as difficult history.
Highlighted objects
About the archives
Visit the Black Cultural Archives with our video tour.
Black Cultural Archives’ collection of objects started over 40 years ago. The collection grew from a response to the New Cross Fire (1981) and the collective injustices experienced by people of mainly African and Caribbean descent in the UK. Founders of the archive wanted a space where members of the community and young people, could find positive representations of themselves in culture and history.
The founders created what they referred to as an ‘archive museum’, a space to see and experience a more comprehensive picture of the Black presence in Britain.
The early collections were sourced from antique dealers and secondhand shops in markets and on Portobello Road and formed the backbone of the collection and highlighted the contributions of Black communities prior to the 1948 ‘Windrush’ narrative.
About the curator
Sandra Shakespeare is a museum arts and heritage consultant who also works as an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion specialist trainer. Sandra is a facilitator and collaborator, empowering emerging creatives, and shaping conversations our sector needs. She loves working with people on interpretation, curatorial research, and participation strategies.
Her work has taken her across the UK, and internationally with organisations, such as NYC and Concordia Universities, Museum Hue, AAMC, Gentle/Radical, Art Fund, English Heritage, Culture&, London Mayors Office, National Archives, National Trust, Cornwall Museums Partnerships, and Black Cultural Archives.
Sandra is a co-founding member of Museum Detox and the Black British Museum Project.
Black and white photo from exhibition, ‘Masquerading: The Art of the Notting Hill Carnival 1986-7’