The practice involves utilizing collections and records to advance social justice causes and challenge dominant narratives. This work often entails identifying marginalized voices and suppressed histories within existing holdings, and then strategically employing these materials to advocate for change. For instance, an organization might unearth documents detailing discriminatory housing policies and use them to support contemporary efforts to combat housing inequality.
The value of this approach lies in its potential to rewrite historical understanding, empower communities, and hold institutions accountable. It provides evidence-based support for advocacy efforts and can serve as a powerful tool for raising public awareness about systemic injustices. Historically, groups excluded from mainstream accounts have turned to these resources to reclaim their past and inform present-day struggles for equality.
