ASU's 1st Black Collections archivist discusses approaches to uncovering Black history in AZ

By Steve Goldstein
Published: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - 12:07pm
Updated: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - 12:11pm

Audio icon Download mp3 (11.45 MB)

Jessica Salow
ASU
ASU library hired its first-ever Black collection archivist Jessica Salow.

The history of Black people in Arizona has rarely, if ever, received the level of attention and scholarship as that of whites or Latinos. That included, until very recently, the libraries of Arizona State University.

The 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis brought with it a change of priorities at the university in that regard, and a list of 25 initiatives was introduced. Number 23 was for the ASU library to hire its first-ever Black collection archivist. Jessica Salow is the person chosen for the important position.

The Show spoke with Salow to learn how archiving Black history should best be approached.

More Stories From KJZZ