MTM is the archive. BLACC is the work.

 

As the Black Liberation Archiving and Conservation Center (BLACC) was being founded, we made a key realization: Memorialize The Movement is not the organization, it is the archive and BLACC is the work. 

 

Memorialize The Movement (MTM) was created in response to the murder of George Floyd and the protest plywood murals created during the Uprising. As the murals began to disappear in 2020 and 2021 when businesses reopened their storefronts, Leesa had the foresight to collect them for future preservation. Since then, MTM has operated as a response organization, adapting to the needs of the community over the past five years. Now that we've been in operation for five years, we've had the chance to build a foundation for this work, strengthen our network, and understand where our focus is needed moving forward.

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In 2025 and long before then, Black heritage in this country has always been an after thought. During the uprising in 2020 we saw the value in the murals and their potential for the future, so we acted and did what was needed in the moment. We want to equip Black individuals to do the same; to assess the times accordingly and be proactive in the moment. Unfortunately, tragedies in our community will continue to occur as we keep making strides towards true liberation. The Black Liberation Archiving and Conservation Center is the work that will carry on what was started with Memorialize The Movement. Our history deserves to be cared for in the present so our descendants won’t have to do the work of unearthing it later.

 

Thus Memorialize The Movement is the archive and the Black Liberation Archiving and Conservation Center is the work. Will you join us in changing the way Black history and heritage are cared for in this country?

 

Visit memorializethemovement.com while the website is still active to see our current and past events, programming, and initiatives as we work to make the permanent transition to BLACC.