Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Remember History Through Black Memorabilia

By Lela Perkins


Memorabilia that reflects African American culture and people from early 1900s until late 1960s are known as black memorabilia. Collectibles could be images, dolls, figurines, household items of Afro Americans and some of the scenes show them doing labor that most slaves do during that time. Some figurine renders them as having exaggerated lips, wide eyes and has an exaggerated body proportions and on their heads are turbans or scarves.

Other collectibles can be mammy dolls, slave documents, advertising mediums, caricatures, and kitchen items. Political posters from 1960s which features black activists have a historical value and can be considered a collectible. Highly valued memorabilia are those from Afro American actors, artists, singers, and bands.

Many people of different races and nationalities collect them for various reasons. Items like salt and pepper shakers, bisque children sitting in cotton bales were some of the souvenirs that were mass produced and sold in these era. Many of the more valuable and rare collectibles has a very controversial topic of slavery and not everyone approves of these being sold or auctioned at the market.

They are not collected because of discrimination or racism and not all the pieces have a negative meaning. Yet, there are many collectors who try to find and acquire these pieces even if they are very offensive to many people or slave related works as a way to preserve their history. Still, there are many pieces of African American culture that are inspiring and encouraging that can be in your collection.

It is a way of appreciating their past struggles and heritage and to make sure that history is not repeated. Collecting these pieces are not just for fun or frivolity, but a personal endeavor to make peace with the past. This help us aim for a future that is prosperous and free of racial barriers and other discrimination.

Collecting black Americana is becoming more popular and is also becoming more costly as time goes by. There is a big jump of the price tags of these items from a few years ago. Along with these high price tag follows a league of counterfeits and reproductions that are a headache of all collectors.

Ensure that the product you are investing with a lot of money is authentic since reproduction and fakes are prevalent nowadays. Check for an object has a reproduction especially if they are promoted as an antique or vintage. If you are not sure of its value, check for the price guides or check the prices of similar objects.

Inspect the feedback of past customers when you are buying online, and check other items are sold. Buying from a distinguished auction organizers and dealers are safer since they can give proper documents to a product. Just because it has an authenticity marking does not mean it is so be cautious and read the description always.

Collecting black memorabilia comprises of a wide variety of items and a balanced collection will show both the good and the bad side of the era. However, what people choose to collect is their own choice. What we can learn from all these years is that we should learn to be tolerant and understanding to live in peace and harmony.




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