Authored by Lae'l Hughes-Watkins for the Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

Moving Toward a Reparative Archive

Authored by Lae'l Hughes-Watkins for the Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

"Moving Toward a Reparative Archive: A Roadmap for a Holistic Approach to Disrupting Homogenous Histories in Academic Repositories and Creating Inclusive Spaces for Marginalized Voices" is a journal publication retracing the racist and colonialist impact of archiving. Archives have recently been at the center of criticism for “privileging, preserving, and reproducing a history that is predominately white.” A holistic approach would include more diverse voices but also no erasure of our violent past. The full acceptance of our collective biography and its consequences—is the price we must pay to see ourselves squarely. Attempting to silence and erase this violent past is a direct assault on the unspoken oath of archivists and the institutions in which they reside.