We Were Here
As many of you know I am OBSESSED to say the least with historic homes and buildings. Everything about these artifacts makes me as giddy as a child and I always look forward to uncovering the stories of yesteryear. While these structures are physical representations of our history, and are gorgeous testaments of artistry and craftsmanship, their value lies in the people and their experiences surrounding them.
The First African Baptist Church Savannah, GA
“That is what makes these homes valuable… they are sticks and bricks, an inanimate object …. their value is finite until you consider the souls that have passed through it, in whatever capacity...”
- laine berry
Yesterday I had the chance to connect with one of my favs on ‘A Quarter Til Wine’. The eloquent Laine Berry of @ourrestorationnation and I had the opportunity to unpack how the true work of celebrating historic architecture lies in having a complete understanding and subsequent conversation of the people of the time. Those who not only owned these homes, but the people that built and cared for these homes over the years. Recognizing these people in their totality, with stories, and experiences that should be valued and are just as worthy and important to be passed on is the responsibility of our generation.
We have an obligation, as we today write the history for our future to include as much of these stories as we can. What has been for a long time relegated to oral history now has the opportunity to become recorded history. We have the means today to do the work, and begin including every part of the American story.
“The stories of the people, not the stories that have been put on the people” - Laine berry
A complete narrative is one that is evident of inclusion. Anything less is continuing the exclusion we are so trying to evolve from. Including the perspective, the story of the people is perhaps the single most important reckoning to a history that we cannot change, but with hope and perseverance, may learn from.
“For many many many people the only evidence of their existence on this planet and their time here is within the walls of the structure” - laine berry
Both Laine and I concluded that to continue to move forward, with each generation (because frankly that is the whole point) we may have to get uncomfortable. We will have to come to the discussion, not knowing everything but actively seeking out to include perspectives other than our own. As America prides itself with being “the great melting pot” it is not grandiose to think that our Architecture would not be a physical testament to so many beautiful, different, worthy people that have proven that even out of the darkest of time creating beauty is something we have inherently always done.
And it is my belief that to achieve true equity in this renaissance of historic homes being valued the conversation must be inclusive, authentic and true.