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Chicago Black Lives Matter Protest Collection

Descriptive Summary

Title
Chicago Black Lives Matter Protest Collection
Identifier
Midwest.MS.ChicagoBLM
Repository
The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts
Language
English
Size
4.4 linear feet (1 box and 2 oversize boxes)
Dates
2014-ongoing
Collection Stack Location
1 9 4, 1 16 3
Abstract
Announcements, flyers, artwork, buttons, newsletters, photographs, posters, t-shirts, and other materials collected by various individuals at Chicago protests, 2015-2016, responding to recurring police violence and civil rights violations against black citizens. This documentation was solicited as part of a 2016 Newberry Library exhibition, From Civil War to Civil Rights, and also includes responses to events posted by visitors to the exhibition.
Language
Materials are in English, with some in Spanish.
Creator
Black Lives Matter (Chicago).

Provenance

Gifts, 2016.

Conditions Governing Access

The Chicago Black Lives Matter Protest Collection are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Chicago Black Lives Matter Protest Collection are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Cite As

Chicago Black Lives Matter Protest Collection, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Processed by

Catherine Grandgeorge, 2016.

History of the Black Lives Matter Movement

#BlackLivesMatter is an online forum and chapter-based national organization founded in 2012 by Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi, and Alicia Garza. The phrase "Black Lives Matter" can reference a hashtag and a slogan, social movement, and loose confederation of affiliated groups and organizations that advocate for multiple causes related to racial injustice. According to the website blacklivesmatter.org, the movement describes its purpose as "build[ing] connections between Black people and our allies to fight anti-Black racism, to spark dialogue among Black people, and to facilitate the types of connections necessary to encourage social action and engagement."

The Chicago chapter of Black Lives Matter is active in organizing and participating in a variety of events related to racial injustice. Major events include a March 2015 protest at Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office for Chicago Police Department reforms, an October 2015 protest at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, and a March 2016 protest of a Donald Trump rally.

Scope and Content of the Collection

Announcements, flyers, artwork, buttons, newsletters, photographs, posters, t-shirts, signs and other materials collected by various individuals at Chicago protests and rallies. Includes digital photographs taken by Chicago photographer Catherine Gass at various events including a Black Lives Matter protest and a Donald Trump campaign rally in Chicago.

Organization

Materials are organized in the following series:

    Series 1: Ephemera
    Box 1 and Oversize Boxes 2-3
    Series 2: Digital Photographs
    Digital collections

Indexed Terms

Inventory

Ephemera,
2014-ongoing
Scope and Contents note

Ephemeral materials collected at various protests and events surrounding the Chicago Black Lives Matter movement. Includes items such as artwork and signs, flyers, handbills, and announcements used or created for particular events. Other materials including newspapers, pamphlets, zines, and posters reflect the movement as a whole.

Arrangement note

Arranged by type of material.

Box 1
Title
Announcements and Flyers
Box 1
Title
Art – "16 Shots & a Cover Up, #ResignRahm", artist unknown,
Dates
undated
Box 1
Title
Art – "#CanonizeTheKids" by Damon Davis, St. Louis, MO. (purchased, Young Fund),
Dates
2016
Box 1
Title
Art – "#FreeMarissa, Self Defense is my Right" by Jennifer Kernica,
Dates
approximately 2014
Box 1
Title
Art – "Rest in Peace Damo, we charge genocide" by Molly Crabapple,
Dates
Nov. 2014
Box 1
Title
Art – "We Charge Genocide: Year 1" by Monica Trinidad,
Dates
2015
Box 1
Title
Art – Works from #tintedjustice,
Dates
approximately 2015
Box 1
Title
Articles and Pamphlets
Box 1
Title
Buttons and Stickers – Black Lives Matter, Bye Anita, and Bernie Sanders campaign,
Dates
2015-2016
Box 1
Title
Coloring Book – Color Me Rising: a 2015 Radical Coloring Book by For the People Artist Collective and the Chicago Childcare Collective,
Dates
2015
Box 1
Title
Coloring book - Color Me Resisting!,
Dates
2016
Box 1
Title
Flyers – Newberry Library collecting protest materials,
Dates
2016
Box 1
Title
Newberry "Civil War to Civil Rights" Exhibit – Comment Wall Post-It notes,
Dates
removed Mar. 4, 2016
Box 1
Title
Newberry "Civil War to Civil Rights" Exhibit – Comment Wall Post-It notes,
Dates
removed Mar. 16, 2016
Box 1
Title
Newberry "Civil War to Civil Rights" Exhibit – Comment Wall Post-It notes,
Dates
removed Apr. 1, 2016
Box 1
Title
Newsletters
Box 1
Title
Newspapers
Box 1
Title
Photographs
Box 1
Title
Postcards
Box 1
Title
Signs – "Impeach Rahm 2016", artist unknown,
Dates
2016
Box 1
Title
Zine – "Ten Things You Hate About Anita" created by Project NIA,
Dates
undated
Box 2
Title
Art – "Hands Up Don’t Shoot" by Molly Crabapple,
Dates
2014
Box 2
Title
Posters – "100 Black Women & Girls Killed by Police", created for Blood at the Root Exhibition in Chicago,
Dates
Aug.-Oct., 2015
Box 2
Title
Signs – Black Lives Matter
Box 2
Title
Signs – Boomers for Bernie
Box 2
Title
Signs – "If you’re really sorry…Resign!" and "16 Shots and a Cover Up = Resign!"
Box 2
Title
Signs – Sandra Bland, Say Her Name, and Justice for Rekia
Box 2
Title
Signs – "Schools Not Jails" created by For the People Artists Collective, used at Project NIA Day of Action Rally, Chicago,
Dates
Apr. 1, 2016
Box 2
Title
Signs – "Shut It Down",
Dates
Apr. 1, 2016
Box 3
Title
Kite – "Pedro Rios, 14"
Box 3
Title
T-Shirts – "#BlackTransLivesMatter" created by B. Parker (now known as Ethan Parker) for BreakOUT! and "Rahm Failed Us"
Digital Photographs,
2015-ongoing
Scope and Contents note

Photographs taken by Chicago photographer Catherine Gass.

Black Lives Matter protest, Chicago,
Dec. 18, 2015

View online
Black Lives Matter activists and others protest Donald Trump campaign rally, University of Illinois at Chicago,
Mar. 11, 2016

View online