“The valued decorative arts, architecture, and handcrafts of the early American South depended on African American hands, a truth highlighted by folklorist John Michael Vlach in the seminal exhibit, “The Afro-American Tradition in Decorative Arts” at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1978. Yet, some forty years later, too few historians, museum curators, and certainly visitors to the public history institutions of the United States are presented with that truth. The Black Craftspeople Digital Archive (BCDA) seeks to showcase black craftsmanship while bringing to light the stories of black craftspeople.”
