BLK MKT Vintage: Reclaiming Objects and Curiosities That Tell Black Stories

Business and life partners Handy and Stewart, owners of BLK MKT Vintage, share their mission of curating and reclaiming Black history through physical objects. Frustrated by seeing racist objects labelled as “Black memorabilia” in antique shops, Handy and Stewart dreamed of creating their own store for Black cultural ephemera; they now have an online marketplace as well as a brick-and-mortar site in Brooklyn, NY. The couple’s book is not only a tribute to Black culture but a celebration of their 10-year-old company, their personal histories, and their relationship. The text is highlighted by 300 photographs of vintage objects, including books, magazines, playbills, vinyl records, advertising posters, clothing, pins, photographs, pennants, and yearbooks. The authors share cherished items from their private collection as well, including a rare first edition of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, a Faith Ringgold lithograph, the program from James Baldwin’s funeral, and a backgammon board that belonged to Handy’s father. The book is also an inside look at the resale industry and includes tips for building, preserving, and displaying collections.