Black Librarianship in America: A Brief History and What’s Next

Ancestors, Archives, and Black Resistance

Podcast Description:  African spirituality, ancestral traditions, Black archives, and civil rights history all intersect in this powerful episode of the Avery Messenger Podcast. Avery Messager hosts speak with Dr. Kameelah L. Martin about African spiritual traditions, ancestor reverence, Vodou, hoodoo, colonization, and reconnecting with African diasporic practices. Later, historian and archivist Dr. Bobby Donaldson shares his journey into public history, civil rights scholarship, and preserving African American history through archives, education, and activism. This episode is for anyone interested in African diaspora studies, Black history, spirituality, civil rights history, archives, education, and cultural preservation. The Avery Research Center’s symposium, June 9-11, 2026: Those Who Have Must Turn Around and Give: Celebrating 40 Years of Preserving Black History and Education: https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/ [https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/]  The South Carolina Black History Bugle https://avery.charleston.edu/publications/south-carolina-black-history-bugle/ [https://avery.charleston.edu/publications/south-carolina-black-history-bugle/] View our Mellon Foundation sponsored event on African Spirituality featuring Dr. Kameelah L. Martin and Shantrelle P. Lewis, hosted by D’Aujai Kelley: Echoes of the Ancestors: African Spirituality in the Diaspora: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTY_QKMGJqQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTY_QKMGJqQ]  Do you have suggestions for Season 2 of the Avery Messenger? You can contact Ms. DaNia Childress at: childressd@cofc.edu [childressd@cofc.edu]  Time Stamps / Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Avery Messenger Podcast 00:01 Meet Dr. Kameelah L. Martin 00:02 What African Spirituality Means 00:03 Dr. Martin’s Journey Into African Spiritual Traditions 00:05 Differences Between Ifá, Vodou, and Hoodoo 00:05 How Colonization Impacted African Spiritual Practices 00:10 African Spirituality and Social Media Visibility 00:11 Reconnecting With Ancestors and the African Diaspora 00:14 Misconceptions About African Spiritual Systems 00:19 What Ancestor Veneration Really Means 00:22 Advice for Exploring African Spirituality Respectfully 00:32 Introduction to Dr. Bobby Donaldson 00:39 Building Civil Rights Archives and Historical Preservation 00:46 Religion, Education, and the Civil Rights Movement 00:52 Black Resistance Through Education, Art, and Archives 01:00 Mentorship, Archives, and Preserving Black History 01:10 Symposium Announcement and Closing Remarks Hashtags: #AfricanSpirituality #BlackHistory #CivilRightsHistory Keywords: African spirituality explained ancestor veneration traditions Vodou and hoodoo differences African diaspora spirituality Black history preservation civil rights archives African American public history Black resistance history Black church civil rights movement preserving Black archives public history and activism African spiritual traditions Black cultural preservation civil rights scholarship African American archives

Black Foodways and Culture: The History, Resistance, and Future of Food

Podcast Description:  Black foodways are more than cuisine—they’re culture, resistance, and history. In this episode, we explore how food has shaped Black identity across generations and why it still matters today. From the role of food in the civil rights movement to the ongoing fight for food justice and cultural recognition, this conversation breaks down how Black food traditions have survived, evolved, and are now being reclaimed. Whether you're interested in food history, culture, or social impact, this episode offers a deeper understanding of how what we eat connects to who we are. Chef Amethyst Ganaway: Website: waterwhippin.com Instagram: @thizzg Facebook: @chefamethyst Alison Hall Kibbe: Assistant Professor of African American Studies, College of                   Charleston Website: alisonkibbe.com  Suggested readings on Black Foodways:  Cooking the Gullah Way Morning, Noon, & Night and Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way, by Sallie Ann Robinson. If I Can Cook/You Know God Can by Ntozake Shange. Vibration Cooking: or The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl by Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis. The Avery Research Center three-day symposium:   “Those Who Have Must Turn Around and Give: Celebrating Forty Years of Preserving Black History and Education” focused on Black education and the preservation of Black History through archives and community engagement, at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. The symposium registration link is provided in our Show Notes. https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/  [https://avery.charleston.edu/liblitsymp/] Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle Celebration with Susana M. Morris, author of "Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler April 16, 2026 Zoom link  https://cofc.zoom.us/j/3902057839?omn=89850268865  [https://cofc.zoom.us/j/3902057839?omn=89850268865] Echoes of the Ancestors: African Spirituality in the Diaspora  Streaming live on the Avery Research Center YouTube Channel and in person  Time Stamps / Chapters: 00:12:19 – Food as resistance and cultural survival 00:13:00 – Preserving Black culture through foodways 00:13:25 – Food in civil rights and Black Power movements 00:14:00 – Why food reveals hidden cultural contributions 00:15:21 – The future of Black foodways 00:16:30 – Reclaiming Black food culture today 00:17:27 – Misconceptions about Black Southern food 00:18:35 – Black agriculture and land access challenges 00:20:01 – What makes a “decent meal” 00:21:00 – Essential seasonings every kitchen needs 00:22:34 – Influential chefs, scholars, and writers 00:25:32 – Upcoming cookbook and food projects 00:27:30 – Closing thoughts and announcements

Why Archives Matter: The William & Ellen Craft Legacy and Black Style

Archives help preserve the stories that history almost loses. In this episode, we explore personal archives, the William and Ellen Craft legacy, and how Superfine: Tailoring Black Style connects fashion, resistance, and Black history. Hosted by the Avery Research Center, this conversation brings together Georgette Mayo, Dr. Monica L. Miller, Julia Ellen Craft Davis, and Ronni Craft Robinson. The episode looks at why archives matter, how family collections shape public history, and what it means to see the Craft family story featured in a major museum exhibition. This episode is for anyone interested in archives, African American history, family legacy, Black style, and the power of preservation. It is also especially relevant for listeners caring for personal collections at home and educators looking for compelling ways to teach history. Time Stamps / Chapters: Chapters / Timestamps * 00:00:00 Welcome and episode overview * 00:01:15 Caring for your personal archive at home * 00:03:11 Brown Bag Lunch Talk and episode setup * 00:03:33 The William and Ellen Craft collection at Avery * 00:05:15 Guest introductions and Monica L. Miller’s background * 00:07:48 Start of the donor conversation * 00:08:06 What Zora Neale Hurston’s archive teaches about preservation * 00:11:20 How Monica L. Miller begins archival research * 00:13:58 Research, exhibitions, and curatorial inflection points * 00:16:11 Why the Craft family story mattered in Superfine * 00:19:14 How the Craft family learned about the Met exhibition * 00:23:00 What attending the exhibition meant to the family * 00:33:25 Teaching younger generations the Craft story * 00:34:46 The foundation’s focus on archives, education, and scholarships * 00:36:35 Why this history matters for young learners * 00:38:52 Future exhibitions and projects * 00:40:49 Closing thanks and credits Submission link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepBOGb5Dp5u7l4MxNAM2w-l9Pe0lImQ5sb2Jw3nROtY4f5dQ/viewform [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepBOGb5Dp5u7l4MxNAM2w-l9Pe0lImQ5sb2Jw3nROtY4f5dQ/viewform] Dating Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9B7M5B3?th=1 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9B7M5B3?th=1] Avery Research Center Blog: https://avery.charleston.edu/blog/ [https://avery.charleston.edu/blog/]  Avery Research Center Finding aid: AMN 1102: Craft and Crum families papers: https://findingaids.library.cofc.edu/repositories/3/resources/176 [https://findingaids.library.cofc.edu/repositories/3/resources/176]  Selected items Craft and Crum families papers on the Lowcountry Digital Library: https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/?f%5Bcollection_titleInfo_title_facet%5D%5B%5D=Craft+and+Crum+Families%2C+1780-2007&q=Craft+and+Crum+families [https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/?f%255Bcollection_titleInfo_title_facet%255D%255B%255D=Craft+and+Crum+Families,+1780-2007&q=Craft+and+Crum+families]+  Books: Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. Duke University Press, 2009. Exhibition catalog: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style:  https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/superfine-tailoring-black-style [https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/superfine-tailoring-black-style]  Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle with the Craft Family descendants and author Ilyon Woo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoivIOGg9c&t=4s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoivIOGg9c&t=4s]  YouTube Tags: William and Ellen Craft, family archives, personal archives, Black history, African American history, Monica L. Miller, Superfine Tailoring Black Style, black dandyism, Avery Research Center, archival preservation, preserving family history, cultural legacy, Met exhibition, Black style, Ellen Craft, William Craft Hashtags: #WilliamAndEllenCraft #Archives #BlackHistory Keywords: William and Ellen Craft family archives preservation personal archive tips archival preservation at home Black history archives African American archives Monica L. Miller Superfine Tailoring Black Style Black dandyism history preserving family history Avery Research Center Ellen Craft disguise material culture research archives and cultural legacy William and Ellen Craft legacy Reel 1: Why Archives Matter More Than You Think Your story matters. 📚 Archives aren’t just about famous writers or historical figures. They’re about families, memories, and the people who came before us. Personal archives help us understand where we come from and how that history shapes the future. Knowing our history can strengthen us, guide us, and remind us of our place in the larger story. ✨ Preserve the past. Empower the future. #archives #familyhistory #historymatters #preservehistory #oralhistory #legacy #storytelling #historylovers Reel 2: History Isn’t Just the Past — It’s Still Living History isn’t just something we read in books. It’s alive through the people who carry those legacies today. Meeting descendants of figures like Frederick Douglass and Cab Calloway is a powerful reminder that history continues through families, stories, and the work people are doing right now. Through storytelling, especially with children, these histories of enslavement, resistance, and self-liberation remain powerful and meaningful for new generations. Because legacy isn’t just about the past. It’s about what we do with it today. #blackhistory #frederickdouglass #legacy #familyhistory #blackstudies #livinghistory #storytelling #preservehistory #historymatters

Black Librarianship in America: A Brief History and What’s Next

Podcast Description: Black librarianship in America has a long, overlooked history, one shaped by pioneers, segregation-era barriers, and ongoing struggles for equity and visibility. In this episode of Avery Messager, we trace key milestones in Black librarianship and explore how libraries and Black bookstores have served as sites of community, knowledge, and resistance. You’ll hear from Rodney Freeman Jr., librarian and executive producer of the documentary Are You a Librarian? The Untold Story of Black Librarians, on why he started documenting what he calls “silent erasure” and how the public can support the film ahead of its 2026 release. We also sit down with Katie Mitchell, storyteller and bookseller, to discuss her debut book Prose to the People: A Celebration of Black Bookstores, including why she distinguishes Black bookstores vs. Black-owned bookstores, and what her research reveals about the targeted threats Black bookstores have faced. Time Stamps / Chapters: 00:00 Welcome + Episode 5 overview (The Avery Messenger) 00:33 Phillis Wheatley Literary & Social Club + USPS stamp unveiling 01:03 Remembering Ms. Tammy McCottry 01:32 What’s ahead: Black librarianship + Black bookstores 01:54 Timeline: Black librarianship pioneers (brief survey) 07:40 ALA 2025 report + questions about inconsistent data 09:20 Guest intro: Rodney Freeman Jr. + documentary overview 10:09 Why he created Are You a Librarian? (erasure + missing history) 14:16 Choosing interviewees + perspectives across librarianship 16:21 Libraries growing up + comics + representation 19:22 Future of libraries: AI, access, and community 22:35 How to support the documentary (2026 screenings + sharing) 24:02 Guest intro: Katie Mitchell + Prose to the People 28:09 “Black bookstore” vs “Black-owned bookstore” 30:00 Targeted threats to Black bookstores + historical examples 35:03 Research process + archives 35:54 South Carolina spotlight + announcements + next episode teaser Resources: The Stacks Speaks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz962vrrsNI [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz962vrrsNI] Phillis Wheatly Stamp Unveiling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljoQn21Ds-I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljoQn21Ds-I] Hashtags: #BlackLibrarianship #BlackBookstores #LibraryHistory Keywords: black librarianship in america history of black librarians black librarians documentary are you a librarian documentary rodney freeman jr librarian african american library history diversity in librarianship report future of libraries and AI black bookstores history prose to the people book katie mitchell black bookstores black bookstores vs black owned bookstores banned books and black literature libraries community building documenting is resistance

Avery Messenger Ep. 4 Book Clubs and Banned Books

Book clubs and banned books are shaping how communities read, learn, and push back against censorship—especially when reading becomes a shared, collective practice. In this episode of Avery Messenger, hosts Georgette Mayo and D’Aujai Kelly explore the legacy and impact of Black-led reading communities, from Charleston’s longstanding Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club archives to the Dr. Consuela Francis Reading Circle and its 10-year milestone. You’ll also hear from OlaRonke Akinmowo, founder/director of the Free Black Women’s Library in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and George M. Johnson, award-winning author of All Boys Aren’t Blue, on why storytelling matters—and what it takes to resist book bans and censorship. Links From Podcast:  Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture website: https://avery.charleston.edu [https://avery.charleston.edu]  Last Call for Proposals: “Those Who Have, Must Turn Around and Give:” Celebrating 40 Years of Preserving Black History and Education,” https://avery.charleston.edu/cfp_avery_mellon/ [https://avery.charleston.edu/cfp_avery_mellon/]  AMN 1031: Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club records on the Lowcountry Digital Library: https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/content/phillis-wheatley-literary-and-social-club-papers/ [https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/content/phillis-wheatley-literary-and-social-club-papers/]  Dr. Conseula Francis Reading Circle: Red Island House with author Andrea Lee: YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phSMuxVrPc [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phSMuxVrPc]  Article from the National Endowment for the Arts: “Federal Date on Reading for Pleasure: All Signs Show a Slump” by Sunil Iyengar.  OlaRonke Akinmowo and The Free Black Women’s Library: https://www.thefreeblackwomenslibrary.com [https://www.thefreeblackwomenslibrary.com]  Charleston City Paper article: “Activists say book bans infringe on free speech,” by Maura Hogan. Dated 3 October 2025. https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2025/10/03/activists-say-book-bans-infringe-on-free-speech/ [https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2025/10/03/activists-say-book-bans-infringe-on-free-speech/]  George M. Johnson website: https://iamgmjohnson.com [https://iamgmjohnson.com]  Time Stamps / Chapters:  00:56 Why book clubs matter: community + critical thinking 01:46 Phillis Wheatley Literary & Social Club (Avery archives) 03:30 Dr. Consuela Francis Reading Circle: origins + 10-year milestone 06:08 Zoom era: expanded reach + author conversations 08:18 Interview begins: OlaRonke Akinmowo + Free Black Women’s Library 14:04 From traveling library to storefront (5,000+ books) 18:08 Mutual aid in action: period pantry, free store, garden + care 22:53 Censorship + banned books: why cultural production matters 26:58 “Pretty Little Brick”: Black women writers collective + limited edition 34:08 George M. Johnson intro: All Boys Aren’t Blue + banned books context 36:03 Writing origins + Toni Morrison influence 41:22 Writing as liberation + chosen family + supporting youth 48:13 Book bans reality: activism, ideology, and impact 59:45 Subverting censorship: gifting books + “resource center” strategy 01:02:49 Announcements + acknowledgments + upcoming episodes