You don’t need to be a writer, historian, or public figure to contribute. Share a memory, family story, or firsthand account that will help future generations better understand Black life in America.
For the Record is a storytelling project from Capital B that collects memories, family stories, and firsthand accounts that help explain what it has meant to be Black in America across generations. Together, these stories create a growing public archive of Black life that helps preserve a fuller and more accurate record of American history.
For the Record welcomes stories about Black life in America from the people who lived them and the families who carry their legacies forward. You do not need to be a writer, historian, journalist, or public figure to participate.
We’d love to hear your specific, firsthand memories of moments in history. Examples include:
Not necessarily. Some of the most impactful stories in the archive didn’t get widespread attention. .
For the archive, we are looking for stories connected to both a personal experience and the history of the country. This could be a landmark community event, a family tradition, a change at an institution, a cultural trend, or a shared experience with people you know. The stories that resonate most are those that help future generations better understand Black life in America.
You can submit your story using video, audio, or text by following the instructions on this page.
The Capital B team will review every submission. Some stories may be featured as submitted. A member of our team may follow up with you for additional details, photographs, or context before they become part of the archive.
Selected stories will become part of the For the Record public archive. Some stories will also be featured on capitalbnews.org. Submissions may be edited for length or clarity before they are published.
While every submission may not become a standalone entry in the archive, stories may appear in several ways throughout the project, including:
Yes! You may share stories about family members, ancestors, mentors, community leaders, or other people whose experiences you are connected to. Please include as much detail as you can about the people in your submission.
We highly encourage you to share photos, letters, newspaper clippings, family records, and other historical materials that can help bring your story to life.
Because Black history is American history. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we want to ensure that the memories, experiences, and voices of Black people are preserved in a public record that future generations can access, learn from, and build upon.
Many of the most important stories in American history were never recorded in textbooks or featured in the media. We want this archive to help change that.
