Our reparative work
As archivists, we make decisions that affect what gets collected, preserved, cataloged, exhibited, and researched. Because of that, our choices hold power to both include and exclude people, cultures, and memories from the historical records we steward. The calls for social justice and anti-racism that have come in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and others have been an important reminder of our responsibilities as archivists, the illusion of neutrality in this role, and of the imperative of actively working to dismantle the white supremacy and structural racism found in most archives. The Black Lives Matter movement has been the impetus for education, reflection, and identification of steps the Perkins Archives can start taking in response. Our reparative work on this site is in response to this. It is ongoing and iterative and outlined on this page.
Our reparative work
As archivists, we make decisions that affect what gets collected, preserved, cataloged, exhibited, and researched. Because of that, our choices hold power to both include and exclude people, cultures, and memories from the historical records we steward. The calls for social justice and anti-racism that have come in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and others have been an important reminder of our responsibilities as archivists, the illusion of neutrality in this role, and of the imperative of actively working to dismantle the white supremacy and structural racism found in most archives. The Black Lives Matter movement has been the impetus for education, reflection, and identification of steps the Perkins Archives can start taking in response. Our reparative work on this site is in response to this. It is ongoing and iterative and outlined on this page.
Describing ethnicity
Our image descriptions of people now include skin tone information. The lack of identifying information on our legacy collections erase people of color from the historical record for people who are blind or visually impaired and who may also be a person of color.
Current practice: Ethnicity (if known) should be included in the description. We do not make guesses or assumptions about a person’s ethnicity. When describing skin-tone, we don't non-ethnic terms but rather what is referred to as "emoji terms"
The terms are as follows:
- Light Skin Tone
- Medium-Light Skin Tone
- Medium Skin Tone
- Medium-Dark Skin Tone
- Dark Skin Tone
We also now Include descriptions of everyone in the photograph with the intention of not conveying white/light skin tone as “default.”
Describing ethnicity
Our image descriptions of people now include skin tone information. The lack of identifying information on our legacy collections erase people of color from the historical record for people who are blind or visually impaired and who may also be a person of color.
Current practice: Ethnicity (if known) should be included in the description. We do not make guesses or assumptions about a person’s ethnicity. When describing skin-tone, we don't non-ethnic terms but rather what is referred to as "emoji terms"
The terms are as follows:
- Light Skin Tone
- Medium-Light Skin Tone
- Medium Skin Tone
- Medium-Dark Skin Tone
- Dark Skin Tone
We also now Include descriptions of everyone in the photograph with the intention of not conveying white/light skin tone as “default.”
Content warnings
Perkins School for the Blind Archives acknowledges that our historical collections may contain harmful imagery and language. Because harmful content documents attitudes and prejudices of the time in which they were made, we make this content available. It is our intention to mitigate potential harm with content warnings and carefully considered language on content created by the Archives.
Content warnings
Perkins School for the Blind Archives acknowledges that our historical collections may contain harmful imagery and language. Because harmful content documents attitudes and prejudices of the time in which they were made, we make this content available. It is our intention to mitigate potential harm with content warnings and carefully considered language on content created by the Archives.
Concerned about content or misidentification?
If you have concerns about the content of our collections or misidentification in description, please contact us at Archives@Perkins.org.
Concerned about content or misidentification?
If you have concerns about the content of our collections or misidentification in description, please contact us at Archives@Perkins.org.