Photography from the Black Canon
Candid Culture is a collaborative archival initiative led by Dr. Kelli Morgan and Alima Wheeler-Trapp of The Black Canon (TBC), dedicated to preserving and amplifying a vital yet underrepresented facet of Black cultural history. At its core is TBC’s extensive collection of candid photography, an invaluable record of Black life in Detroit during the height of the Civil Rights Era.
Through a rigorous archival process—including cataloging, digitization, and scholarly research—Candid Culture ensures that these photographs are safeguarded and contextualized for generations to come. More than a preservation effort, the project transforms this rare visual record into a living archive that highlights the everyday and extraordinary dimensions of Black artistic expression, community organizing, and performance culture.
The project will culminate in a virtual exhibition that provides broad public access to the archival process. By situating these images within the broader history of Detroit’s Black arts and activism, Candid Culture establishes a lasting archival resource for scholars, artists, and communities—one that affirms resilience, creativity, and collective memory.
