A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects

Though the title of this book describes exactly what it is about—10 objects—it packs so much more information into its pages. Chairmaker, teacher, and researcher Awake chooses objects that will be easily recognizable to readers from the southern United States. Some of these varied examples include front porches, face jugs, and Poynor chairs. Awake’s research showcases the true Black history behind these very American materials. Many were made with African techniques or using inspiration brought from their homelands (or passed down) when the creators were enslaved and forcibly brought to the States. While there are no photographs, Holland’s illustrations of the objects and their creators are art themselves. Researchers will be able to use this volume as a starting point into Black creative history, but not necessarily as their only source. Those who are not researchers may want to dig into the topic more as well. Either audience can use the back matter notes section to find references to further reading.