In The Black Historians’ Department: The Past Belongs to You

Philadelphia, PA — In The Black Historians’ Department: The Past Belongs to You, speculative historian Tafari Robertson offers a radical rethinking of historical engagement, centering Black memory workers who operate outside traditional academic institutions. The exhibition, which emerged from a series of workshops and listening sessions with Philadelphia’s Black artistic and cultural community, invites audiences to consider history not as a static archive but as a living, communal practice.

Robertson’s installation unfolds across two intimate settings—a stylized office and a living room interior—where visitors are encouraged to interact with reference books, audio recordings, and video clips. These materials serve not only as artifacts but as conduits for storytelling, reflection, and exchange. The exhibition also features two display cases from the Library Company’s African American History Collection, grounding the speculative framework in historical lineage.

At its core, The Past Belongs to You asks: What would history look like if it were shaped by the ways Black people share knowledge with one another? Rather than positioning history as something to be discovered or authorized, Robertson frames it as a participatory act—one rooted in care, community, and cultural continuity.

The project underscores the importance of amplifying informal and intergenerational modes of historical transmission, challenging dominant narratives and institutional gatekeeping. Through immersive design and collaborative inquiry, Robertson’s work affirms that Black history is not merely preserved—it is lived, felt, and continually reimagined.

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Art is courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia. This article draws on research from the editorial archive, including materials from the Library Company of Philadelphia. Library Company of Philadelphia. “A Painting.” Library Company of Philadelphia, October 23, 2023.