Reclaiming the Archives: White Supremacy and Testimonials of Resistance in an Art & Design College

Abstract

This paper uncovers the white supremacist origins of curriculum and pedagogy in an Art and Design College, while presenting a video testimonial project in which participants speak their truths regarding racialized encounters on campus. Using a Critical Race Theory framework, we trace a lineage from the early Eurocentric formations of American Art and Design higher education to current racial hostility on college campuses. Counternarratives are presented as a methodology of resistance, culture change, and archival reclamation.