But You’re Black: The Overlooked Community of Scranton, PA

Took root as simple research question, sprouted into my graduate thesis, which ultimately blossomed into long-term archival project.

Nowhere in Scranton exists a space dedicated to solely archiving, highlighting, honoring, researching and documenting the black experience. How is it possible that Black people have been residents and active participates in every social sector (including cultural, communal, economic, and political) of Scranton, but no such evidence exists?Nowhere in Scranton exists a space dedicated to solely archiving, highlighting, honoring, researching and documenting the black experience. How is it possible that Black people have been residents and active participates in every social sector (including cultural, communal, economic, and political) of Scranton, but no such evidence exists?

But You’re Black was created to be a space to educate, inspire, encourage dialog and finally give credit and recognition to the contributions of the Black residents from the 1840 to the present—178 years of discounted history. But You’re Black was created to be a space to educate, inspire, encourage dialog and finally give credit and recognition to the contributions of the Black residents from the 1840 to the present—178 years of discounted history.

- Glynis Johns, Founder of Black Scranton Project