BLK MKT Vintage: Reclaiming Objects and Curiosities That Tell Black Stories

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. (Oct.)