Uncovering Our History Through The Relics Left Behind
Posted in Black history, Figurines, and history
The first thing I saw in the etagere was a beautiful Lladro grouping of a mother reading to her two daughters. One daughter was seated on a bench next to her, listening intently, and the…
Posted in Black history, Ephemera/Paper/Documents, and slavery
I was flipping through a decade-old black history newsletter recently when I came across an article illustrated with two 19th-century ads announcing slave auctions. The headlines slapped me across the face because they were so jarring:…
“Is that a numbers book?” the woman asked, smiling, knowing the answer but asking the question anyway. On her face, you could see the memories. It was same look I had seen on countless others…
Posted in Black history, collectibles, Culture, Ephemera/Paper/Documents, Family, and Photos
Next weekend, I will be joining another history buff in a presentation on historical treasures to look for in your home. It’s part of the 2012 Black History & Culture Showcase that has been held in…
Posted in Black history, and Culture
My auction buddy Janet pulled forth a recollection that even back then should have been unbelievable. We were standing on the sidewalk last weekend at an estate sale in a blue-collar neighborhood at the bottom…
Posted in African American women, Art, Black history, Books, Civil War, Cooking, Ephemera/Paper/Documents, and slavery
I was reading an email a few days ago that reminded me that this month was Women’s History Month. Why are people whom society considers marginal given a small piece of the year to spotlight their…
Posted in Black history, and Ephemera/Paper/Documents
I was looking through the catalog at the African American manuscript auction when Spike Lee came through the door. There were so many goodies wrapped up in so much history that I had kept my…
It was a room full of black folks with, I’m sure, one collective thought: These white men looking down on us from their gold-framed pictures must be turning over in their graves. Not turning over just…
Posted in Black history, food, and Kitchen
The metal pot with the army green patina looked like a thicker version of an Asian wok there on the auction table. I slid off the lid and saw a jumble of heavy metal parts inside.…
Posted in Black history, and collectibles
As I stood there looking at the black lawn jockey on the auction table, I could sense that someone had walked up next to me. The auction-goer watched as I fingered the metal figure. He…
