An Anthology of Blackness

Best books of 2023 — Architecture & Design, Financial Times

“Born from the Black Lives Matter movement, this collection on design responds to a field in which black voices remain severely underserved and often unheard…A valuable and provocative addition.”
–The Financial Times

“Unapologetic is the only way to describe this anthology; it’s a scholarly “state of the union,” with design practitioners, researchers, scholars, and educators documenting their groundbreaking perspectives, research, and advocacy. An Anthology of Blackness offers bold treatises of where Black designers have been, where we are, and where we are heading, bridging the gap between the past and today’s advancement of the Black designer in the global design conversation.”
–Print

“This collection of essays, opinion pieces, case studies, and visual narratives looks toward the horizon of an anti-racist design industry. Divided into three sections that focus on the design industry itself, surrounding pedagogy, and activism, the book analyzes how Black graphic designers—from the early 20th century to today—have called for social justice while exploring the legacy of Eurocentric beauty standards, especially hair. There’s a brisk survey of African histories of making in the pedagogy section, as well as an investigation of why Black students don’t enroll in design electives. The portion on the design industry offers technocratic and heartfelt suggestions: for example, using video games to attract Black youth to design, and improving practices of arts and cultural stewardship. With intersectional perspectives on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and ability, the anthology reminds the reader: ‘Design is not a master’s tool.”
–Metropolis

“The history of design as we know it excludes centuries of highly skilled and creative production by Africans and the African diaspora. This book – edited by Terresa Moses of the University of Toronto and Omari Souza of the University of North Texas – seeks to turn things around. Starting from the media attention sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, it delves into the protests of African American communities in the 1920s and 1960s and examines the creative tactics they employed. Building on these historical roots, the book leads us to question design’s ability to challenge racial biases, forms of oppression, and establish itself as a truly inclusive social practice.”
–Domus

“This collection provides essays, case studies, and opinions along with visual storytelling. Sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement, the book looks closely at why the design field/industry has failed to produce Black professionals. The contributors write from perspectives of race, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity. The book is divided into three sections—”Black Design Industry and Organizations,” “Black Design Pedagogy,” and “Black Design .” The pedagogy section includes a brisk survey and an investigation of why BlaActivismck students tend not to enroll in design classes. The collection looks at where Black designers have been, where they are today, and where they are going. The book also offers guidance for how to enrich the design industry with Black representation, antiracist pedagogy, and radical self-care. For example, there are discussions of using video games to generate interest in the field on the part of Black youth and how Black designers can impact an antiracist design industry. The contributors describe their personal experiences, including their struggles, solutions, and research through proven methods. They offer their versions of ethnographic studies of applied solutions in hopes of an inclusive design practice and an equitable future.”
–Choice

“An adventurous collection that examines how the design field has consistently failed to attract and support Black professionals—and how to create an anti-racist, pro-Black design industry instead…Through autoethnography, lived experience, scholarship, and applied research, these contributors share proven methods for creating an anti-racist and inclusive design practice.”
–Diversity in Action