About This Archive

What This Is

Always Was is a chronological, global archive of Black people who invented things, created things, or did things for the first time. It spans music, science, fashion, activism, food, architecture, language, and more - organized by field and browsable by era, region, and tag.

This is a living archive. It is not comprehensive. It grows over time as research continues and as people suggest entries we've missed.

Editorial Criteria

An entry qualifies if it documents a Black person or community who:

• Invented or created something (a technology, an art form, a genre, an institution)
• Did something for the first time (first in a profession, first to achieve a milestone)
• Made a contribution that was foundational to a field, even if credit was denied or erased

Every entry must have a credible source. We verify before publishing.

On Inclusion and Harm

Some people whose contributions are documented here also caused serious harm to others. We take that seriously. Documenting a contribution is not celebrating a person, and the archive is not a hall of fame.

Where someone's record of harm is severe — abuse, exploitation, violence — we weigh whether including them serves the archive's purpose or simply platforms someone who does not deserve commemoration. We have removed entries when that calculation came down against inclusion. We will continue to do so as information emerges.

We do not have a clean formula for every case, and we do not pretend to. What we commit to is taking each decision seriously rather than hiding behind neutrality.

How Suggestions Work

Anyone can suggest an entry. Suggestions are reviewed in batches. A source link is required - we can't add entries we can't verify. If your suggestion is accepted, you'll be credited (if you provide your name) with a "suggested by" note on the entry.

Images

Entry thumbnails usually come from Wikimedia Commons or other sources where the file is clearly licensed for reuse. Each image is chosen so the file actually depicts the person, place, or subject of the entry—not a coincidental filename match—and the site links to the canonical file page for attribution and license detail. Some files are copied into the repository from the same licensed sources for performance or stability; the license and source still apply.

You can help: use the suggestion form to propose a replacement or addition, and include a direct link to the file page (for Commons, the File: page). The image must meet the same conditions we use when selecting pictures ourselves—correct subject, acceptable license, and any personality-rights or restriction notices respected—or you must confirm that you control the rights and are licensing the work specifically for use in Always Was under terms we can rely on (say so explicitly in your message).

How It's Built

Always Was is a static site built with Astro, with interactive filtering powered by SolidJS. Content is stored as markdown files in a git repository. There is no database, no CMS, and no user accounts. The suggestion form is powered by Netlify Forms.

This is a solo-maintained project. Every architectural decision optimizes for long-term sustainability by one person.

Contact

For corrections, questions, or collaboration inquiries, use the suggestion form or reach out via the repository.