This project connects organizations and artists dedicated to Black History in the Americas, the history of photography, and cultural preservation.

Since the 1970s, Black movements in Brazil have challenged systemic racism and reclaimed Afro-Brazilian heritage. During the military dictatorship (1964–1985), the Unified Black Movement (MNU) emerged as a leading force advocating for equity. Photographer Lázaro Roberto, who began his career during this pivotal era in Salvador, documented Black activism, cultural expressions like samba, and daily life.

In 1990, Roberto co-founded Zumví - Arquivo Afro-Fotográfico, an archive preserving tens of thousands of negatives by Black photographers. These images chronicle activism, Afro-Brazilian traditions, and rural communities, offering invaluable insights into Black life in Brazil and the history of photography.

In 2022, Joshua Rashaad McFadden began collaborating with Zumvi, a critical archive documenting Black life in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, during his research for a project later presented at National Geographic. This partnership deepened when Zumvi invited him back to Brazil to lecture on his work and book. These engagements led to conversations about the significant challenges in preserving Zumvi’s archive, one of the few collections of Black life in Brazil created by Black photographers.

This exhibition will showcase the works of Afro-diasporic and Brazilian artists, emphasizing the preservation of cultural heritage, the exploration of identity, and the documentation of historical narratives. It will also examine representations of Black life in Brazil while drawing connections to broader diasporic experiences, highlighting shared themes and intersections across the African diaspora.

Featuring:

The Zumví Collective
Thomas Allen Harris
Joshua Rashaad McFadden