Welcome to Episode Two Of Black Matter Matters!

In Episode Two of Black Matter Matters, I spend some time alone, talking to myself and reflecting on a word that has quickly become the center of my creative and academic world: material culture.

At its core, material culture is the stuff of human life. The physical things we make, hold, and keep that tell our stories. From a quilt your grandmother stitched, to a framed print, to your favorite vinyl or book. These are more than just objects. They are memory-holders, proof of creativity, and evidence of who we are.

What Counts as Material Culture

Material culture includes any tangible thing made by humans:

• Artworks, books, and jewelry
• Quilts, photographs, and furniture
• CDs, vinyl records, and digital technology

It’s the physical evidence of our lives and it contrasts with things that aren’t material culture, like thoughts, oral histories, nature, or intangible traditions. Those things matter, too, but what we can touch often becomes what endures.

Why It Matters Right Now

In this episode, I talk about the growing wave of censorship and historical erasure happening across the United States. From books being banned to Black art being quietly removed from exhibitions, we’re watching history get rewritten in real time.

Preserving and collecting material culture is my way of fighting back. When I collect Black art books, frame my own work, or rebuild my CD library, it feels like activism. I love the act of building a personal archive of stories no one can delete.

For me, these acts of preservation protect both my peace of mind and my cultural memory. It’s a way of saying: You can’t erase what we hold in our hands.

Finding Your Lane in Material Culture

We all have a lane when it comes to material culture or a corner of the physical world that speaks to who we are. Maybe for you it’s:

• Building a vinyl or CD collection
• Collecting photography, art, or zines
• Curating books, comics, or magazines
• Saving heirlooms or family recipes
• Creating/ preserving any of these things

I encourage everyone to find their thing and protect it. Not everything needs to be a museum piece to matter. The objects that move you, that tell your story, are worth preserving.

Small Acts, Big Impact

Preservation starts small. It could mean:

• Framing a piece of art to protect it from fading.
• Printing your photos instead of only storing them digitally.
• Shopping secondhand or buying from small Black businesses instead of mass retailers.
• Building a small collection of art, books, or music that reflects who you are.

These small decisions add up to something powerful…a quiet, consistent investment in our collective future.

I will soon be sharing my Black Matter Matters Gift Guide, featuring Black artists, small businesses, and creative brands you can support this holiday season instead of defaulting to a billionaire’s company. Start investing in Black material culture during the most consumerism led time of the year.

Why Archiving Feels Like Freedom

In building my own collection of art, books, CDs, I’m realizing that archiving is a form of freedom. It slows down time, reconnects me with creativity, and reminds me that the things we keep are proof that we were here.

I close the episode reflecting on Black Art and Culture in the 20th Century by Richard Powell, a reminder that Black thinkers, artists, and creatives across generations have always gathered to preserve what matters most.

That’s what Black Matter Matters is about. Collecting, honoring, and passing down the things that define us.

Final Reflection

“Be the change that you want to see in the world.”

That quote is the heartbeat of this episode. The world I want is one where Black art, books, and music are protected, cared for, and never erased and I’m building that world now, one object at a time.

Thank you for listening, and for caring about the materials that make us who we are.

Stay tuned for Episode Three, where I’ll be joined by a guest to talk about what’s happening in our creative landscape and how we keep building in the midst of change. Until then, tell someone about material culture.😉