Council Exemplary Service Award: The Blackivists

Society of American Archivists
Council Exemplary Service Award
Honoring

THE BLACKIVISTS

(Steven D. Booth, Tracy Drake, Raquel Flores-Clemons,
Erin Glasco, Skyla S. Hearn, and Stacie Williams)

WHEREAS the Blackivists, a collective of Black archivists organized to prioritize Black cultural heritage preservation and memory work; and

WHEREAS this collective, founded by Steven D. Booth, Tracy Drake, Raquel Flores Clemons, Erin Glasco, Skyla S. Hearn, and Stacie Williams, provides training and consultation on archival projects, both digital and analog; and

WHEREAS they collaborate with organizations and individuals on archiving initiatives that inventory, document, digitize, and preserve the histories of communities of color, queer communities, working-class and under-resourced communities; religious minorities, and people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS the Blackivists speak, write, create, and provide expertise on a wide variety of topics of importance to community-based archives, take a people-first approach to their work, and prioritize projects that aim to more fully document marginalized and under-documented communities; and

WHEREAS in 2020 they published “Five Tips for Documenting Protests” and “Five Tips for Donating Your Materials” in response to protests against police brutality and systemic racism and documentation efforts around the COVID-19 pandemic. These recommendations prioritize the safety and agency of people and communities who are involved and affected;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Blackivists--Steven D. Booth, Tracy Drake, Raquel Flores-Clemons, Erin Glasco, Skyla S. Hearn, and Stacie Williams--be honored with a 2021 SAA Council Exemplary Service Award for their work toward a more inclusive historical record.

Presented on August 3, 2021.