What is the Legacy Library?
Kwazi Nkrumah had been collecting books for most of his adult life in an effort to create a space for organizers and radicals to continue their political education journey as free and accessible as they need. He understood that our collective liberation required deep political education and praxis, and since Black liberartion literature has constantly been under attack, he focused on building a book collection and sharing books with anyone that needed them.
When our elder became an ancestor, we were able to acquire his entire collection and thus began the Legacy Library. It isn’t just the legacy he has left us, it is also the legacy that we all continue cultivating by engaging with texts and discourse.
Legacy Library is a living space supported by many people, organizations, neighbors, friends, and anyone with care for a communal space for learning. For this reason we created a residency for folks who have helped drive the space further…
Marvin James, Artist in Residence
Marvin James is a multidisciplinary artist, community educator, and ecosystem strategist born and raised in Pomona, CA by way of ancestral migrations from Coahoma County, MS to West Side Chicago as well as Shreveport, LA to South Central Los Angeles. Marvin serves as the founding archive caretaker for ITS-IN-SCOPE, an experimental collective learning and contemporary archiving initiative on a mission to remember intuition and restore indigeneity through pedagogy, placemaking, and propaganda. He also functions as a strategy partner for Care of The Land, a community development cooperative building care-based and self-determined ecosystems and models for land stewardship, social housing, and food cultivation. With a decade of experience as a consultant developing businesses and brands such as The Springhill Company, Roblox, Smashbox Studios, and more, the former Loyola Marymount University adjunct professor, is dedicated to employing their capacity to improve the material conditions of divested communities across the Diaspora.
Developed by ITS-IN-SCOPE and housed at Legacy Library, the People’s Propaganda Printmaking Studio is an experimental public arts studio built to equip everyday folks with the tools and know-how to produce and disseminate their own propaganda. This space invites participants into an ethos of self-determination and post-perfect practice through screen-printing and linocut block printing workshops. The single-color screen-printing press, flash dryer, and a design archive of 30 screens are a fixture in the rear of the library that offers guests the opportunity to create customized adornments out of existing clothing items - affirming both their creative capacity and our collective history through printmaking.
Community members who’ve participated in past open studio workshops are welcomed to utilize our single-color screen-printing press during regular library hours by bringing their own cotton garments (t-shirt, tote bag, hoodie, etc) and selecting an available design at $10 per print. If you’ve yet to participate in an open studio look out for upcoming workshops via Instagram or feel free to reach out and request a 1-on-1 or group workshop via email.
How to Support Us
Please head to our Patreon and become a monthly supporter and have access to some exclusive content and benefits.
Additionally, we are fiscally sponsored by Community Movement Builders and can receive larger, tax-deductible donations through our partnership. Please email us to coordinate.
Most importantly, come by the space, learn with us, conspire with us, and make it your third space.