One of the more controversial groups of Americana collectibles is Black Americana, also referred to as Black Memorabilia, Afro-Americana, and Black Face Collectibles; phrases used to describe memorabilia or ephemera that relates to African American history. Most of this material was produced from the 18th through the 20th centuries and ranged from pieces with very negative depictions of the cruelty of slavery to those that are more wholesome like the well-known Aunt Jemima, whose matronly and jovial nature was replicated on many pieces from cookie canisters to spice sets, dish towels, tea tins, etc.
The derogatory nature of specific items, especially those mass-produced in the first half of the 20th century for commercial purposes, reflect a very different time in American history when it was acceptable to have black stereotypes not only in the home but everywhere. Many in the antiques trade question the ethics of placing a value on, making money from, or collecting items that reflect such a painful and shameful part of our history.
In the throes of the Rodney King riots in 1992, Nehemiah Cisneros’ family store for Black collectibles in Inglewood was razed. Black illustrated books and Golliwog dolls salvaged from the ashes wound up on the shelves and in the closets of Cisneros’ childhood bedroom, ambivalent and uncanny reminders of both violence and resistance.
“As the lifeless doll eyes of racially exploitative faces stared back at me while [I was] trying to fall asleep, I formed an atypical relationship with trauma; trauma became my guardian angel,” the artist said.
In an article for Folklife, Black Americana collector David Pilgrim states, “At a time when many Americans are destroying racist objects, I am taking a different approach. I have spent more than four decades collecting Ku Klux Klan robes, segregation signs, and thousands of everyday objects that portray African Americans as dutiful servants, childlike buffoons, exotic savages, hypersexual deviants, and most disturbingly, menacing predators who must be punished."
Read also: Experience Fad's Fine African Cuisine
He adds, "I collected these items because I believed-then later, knew-that objects, even hateful ones, can be used as teaching tools. In the mid-1990s, I donated the artifacts to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, where I was a sociology professor.
You might be interested in learning more about the broader context of Black Americana and how it intertwines with African-American history. At the highest general overview of the impact of African-American communities on this historical period, you might be interested in African Americans‘ vital contributions to American culture. Furthermore, exploring roadblocks that were created to restrict economic and social progress the Jim Crow laws can offer a better understanding of the challenges decentants of slavery overcame.
Common Forms of Black Americana
The most common forms of Black Americana include such items as:
- Black Face Mechanical Banks
- Cookie Jars
- Boot Scrapes
- Ceramic Novelties
- Folk Art
- Pickaninny Dolls
- Illustrations & Prints
- Advertising
- Children’s Books
These items often depict negative connotations and stereotypes that today are seen as cruel and insensitive; however, not all Black Americana collections have a negative connotation nor are they amassed due to bigotry.
The Controversy Surrounding Slavery-Related Artifacts
Documents and artifacts that reflect the history of slavery: This is both an important and one of the most controversial collector categories for buyers and sellers of Black Americana. Some people feel very strongly that documents and items associated with slavery should never be sold or displayed for any reason while others contend their presence in the marketplace is a reminder of our history, however sorted and distasteful, and are important artifacts that therefore have intrinsic value.
Read also: The Story Behind Cachapas
A recent eBay seller questioned this policy in a post: “I placed a lot of 2 miniature cloth black Americana dolls (grandpa and grandma) on eBay and after they were sold I received a notice from eBay that my listing was removed as per their offensive material policy.” However, comments following the thread question why eBay has a Black Americana category in the first place if they do not allow for the sale of such items.
Posted one respondent to answer that question, “The category exists to list Black Americana which is not offensive.” Quipped another, “So they can more easily find offenders.” Posted yet another on this active thread, “… no rhyme or reason.
In a Reddit thread I came across, someone launched a discussion with the following post: “Long story short; won a huge auction table lot and there happens to be some extremely racist old dolls and postcards, etc. internal debate with myself of whether it’s really ‘right’ to profit off of those items at all. Should I just donate them? Throw away? Try to sell locally?
“I’m a museum collections management specialist … Please don’t destroy them. They can be used by museums or historic sites to teach about history (in this case the mistakes of history).
“They are history, no matter how vile. Do not destroy them, please. Especially if they are coming up as fairly unique.
Read also: Techniques of African Jewellery
“I deal with NAZI s*** from deceased relative cleanouts all the time and I always 100% make sure that it never gets to racists by contacting museums.
“Whatever you do, don’t destroy them (or throw them away) it’s history.
“As a flipper, you need to make money where you can, and if you throw it away you’re destroying things that do have a historical value.
“This is so much a bigger conversation, and I feel it needs a broader scope to realize what might be considered correct vs.
Here's an example of an auction lot:
1200 Dollars Reward Illustrated broadside seeking runaways, including Allen Davidson and Sylla. Easton, [MD], August 23, 1858. The broadside, illustrated with vignettes of both a man and a woman, offers a hefty $1,200 reward, or $200 per adult, for the return of seven self-emancipated formerly enslaved individuals: Allen Davidson (about 28), “Sylla, or Priscilla” (30 to 35) with an infant (about 6 or 8 months old), twin brothers Bob and Perry Davidson (20), Horace Davidson (18), Charles Davidson (15 or 16). A physical description is also listed for each.
Auctions and Sales of African Americana
In February 2021, Cowan’s Auctions hosted its first various owner African Americana sale that brought 278 lots of storied artifacts to the block during Black History Month. Photography, books, ephemera, carvings, and artifacts - all culled from eras and categories that included famous Black business owners, the Civil Rights Movement, slavery and abolition, militaria including artifacts from the Buffalo Soldiers, and literary works from famous Black writers like Langston Hughes and Alain Locke. Leading the auction was an archive relating to the life of abolitionist George H.
In 2022, Elizabeth Meaders, a 90-year-old retired teacher, auctioned off her personal collection of 20,000 artifacts documenting Black history for $1.5 million to a single buyer through Guernsey’s Auction House, keeping the collection intact. The assortment of pictures, posters, signs, statues, and memorabilia, amassed over seven decades, tell a comprehensive history of the Black American experience.
In 2023, Freeman’s/Hindman held an African Americana 333-lot auction that covered pioneering figures and key moments from enslavement, abolition, and war, to politics, civil rights, literature, music, and the visual arts. Highlights include the first edition of Phyllis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773), the first book of poetry published by an African American; photographs and a letter signed by Frederick Douglass; imprints, and ephemera involving Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and most notably a first printing of Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story signed and inscribed by Dr.
In March 2024, Swann Galleries held an auction in New York City that included important documentation of the abolition movement, catalogs, and posters for exhibits by leading Black artists, previously unseen Black Panther material, material on Black-owned businesses, and more. The sale was led by The Negro Travelers’ Green Book, the vital travel guide for Black families from the late 1950s in the United States when a long-distance drive would be a cause for apprehension about finding lodging, gasoline, or even a restroom.
Examples of African American Antiques and Their Significance
Antiques and ephemera (letters, diaries, photos, postcards, and posters) related to African-American history in offer a glimpse into the rich history and culture of African-American communities in the United States. From handmade furniture to vintage postcards and historical documents, these items hold significant historical and cultural value.
Here are some examples:
- Homemade and handcrafted furniture made by African-Americans often showcases unique carving and craftsmanship. These pieces were typically made for personal use and reflect the creativity and skill of their creators.
- Vintage postcards and photographs depicting African-American communities, events, or individuals provide valuable visual representations of African-American history.
- Letters, journals, diaries, pamphlets, and posters offer insights into the social and political movements that have shaped African-American culture.
- Antique tools or instruments used in African-American crafts or trades illustrate the ingenuity and resourcefulness of African-American artisans.
- Vintage clothing, accessories, and jewelry reflect the fashion trends and cultural influences within African-American communities.
- Antique religious objects and artifacts associated with African-American churches provide a window into the spiritual practices and beliefs of African-Americans throughout history.
What does Black Americana mean?
Here's a table showing the value of some Black Americana items:
| Item | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage McCoy Pottery Mammy Black Americana cookie jar | $170 | 2022 |
| Elizabeth Meaders' collection of 20,000 artifacts documenting Black history | $1.5 million | 2022 |
