Live QA: Implementing Programmatic Anti-Racist (Re)Description at Predominately White Institutions

Abstract

Live Q & A session for session of archivists representing three large, predominantly-white academic institutions and a regional, grassroots volunteer organization will discuss efforts they are spearheading to address issues relating to harmful, racist, or oppressive language in finding aids and other descriptive records, including bibliographic records. Such description largely stems from the long-held tradition of valuing and upholding neutrality within libraries and archives that has (in)advertently centered hegemonic power structures, white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism. Many archivists and librarians have shifted towards dismantling these harmful structures in order to facilitate more inclusive preservation, discovery, and access to cultural heritage materials. The session includes a diverse panel of presenters; white panelists in particular will reflect on their positionality in relation to conducting anti-racist description work.