The Hands That Keep History: Black and Mexican Women’s Archival and Epistemological Legacies

Women of Color feminists have engaged in archival practices and alternative ways of knowing, despite their continued erasure in mainstream knowledge production. This paper presents the archival and epistemological contributions of ordinary Black and Mexican women. Drawing on artifacts, narratives, and reflective notes, we explore the archival practices and saberes/ways of knowing of maternal figures in our families. In doing so, we aim to challenge traditional notions of archival collection by (1) validating the archival practices of women of Color; and (2) showcasing the knowledge systems that these practices engender. This work contributes to archival, feminist, and educational scholarship that redefines who gets to author history and how that history is remembered. Moreover, as educational scholars, we offer pedagogical insights for social justice-oriented educators seeking to integrate and affirm Black and Chicana/Latina women’s histories in their classrooms.