Ep. 9: Some of the Black artisans who shaped the nation
Robell Awake and I discuss his book, "A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects"
Listen to Ep. 9 of the Reading with Rachelle podcast, as Robell Awake and I discuss his new book, A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects, which was just released February 4, 2025.
The book grabbed me from the first few paragraphs. I was hooked after reading the stunning statistic that Robell says he stumbled upon in an essay written by historian James E. Newton titled, “Slave Artisans and Craftsmen: The Roots of Afro-American Art,” that talked about artisans in the Southern United States. Robell wrote:
In 1865, Black skilled artisans outnumbered white artisans five to one, with an estimated one hundred thousand Black artisans versus twenty thousand white artisans. Black folks were the backbone of the building and craft trades throughout the South.
In this episode, Robell and I discussed this fact, along with the impact Black artisans have had on American art and design, through a few of the book's objects and their creators.
We also discussed how enslaved Black people used their skills and ingenuity as a form of resistance and expression. We not only discussed some of these innovative examples, but also Robell’s work and one of these skilled craftsmen mentioned in the book who has influenced it.
Listen to our discussion above—or on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast.
NOTE: I was given an advance review copy of this book from the publisher. But that did not influence my decision to interview Robell. I only feature books I like on Reading with Rachelle.
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