Bridget R. Cooks Knihy

Focusing on the portrayal of African American culture, this book explores its representation in mainstream art museums over an extensive period from the 1920s to the 2000s. It delves into how cultural narratives have evolved and examines the impact of these institutions on public perception and appreciation of African American art. Through critical analysis, the work highlights both progress and ongoing challenges in the inclusion and recognition of African American contributions to the art world.

The artists featured in The Black Index —Dennis Delgado, Alicia Henry, Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Titus Kaphar, Whitfield Lovell, and Lava Thomas—build upon the tradition of Black self-representation as an antidote to colonialist images. Their translations of photography challenge the medium’s long-assumed qualities of objectivity, legibility, and identification. Using drawing, sculpture, and digital technology to transform the recorded image, these artists question our reliance on photography as a privileged source for documentary objectivity and historical understanding. The works featured here offer an alternative practice—a Black index. In the hands of these six artists, the index still serves as a finding aid for information about Black subjects, but it also challenges viewers’ desire for classification and, instead, redirects them toward alternative information.