WELCOME!  You've taken the first steps into the world of reenacting.  Judging by your choice in website, I'm assuming that you or someone you care about are intending to reenact as a black person.  Before you start I want you to take a breath and remember that this first step can take as long as you want it to.  There is no rush to get you in historical garb and at an event no matter what your best friend is telling you.  The "reenactment of the century" will always come again, so do not let anyone rush you into this.  Which leads me to:
"The 4 R's of Reenacting While Black"

• Retain Your Independence and Sense of Self
  • It is hard for reenactors who are not of African descent to understand the complexities of making the conscious decision to reenact or interpret a person of the past as someone who visibly presents as black.   Before getting started take some solitary time and write a list of 3 or more reasons why you want to start reenacting, and in addition write 3 goals you want to accomplish at your first event (This is solely for you and is meant to help you stay on track).  Make sure you read this paper before each event.  Keep it updated because your reasons and goals will continually change.
  • Set your limits and revisit them before each reenactment.  You can update or change them as you gain more experience, but make sure you have them.
  • DO NOT COMMIT right away to a unit or a living history group (even if it's me asking you to join).  I am speaking from experience.  Do your research into the group and its members.  The hardest thing for a black reenactor to do at times is just to say "no" or "let me think on it".  
  • You do not have to be affiliated with a unit or group to be a reenactor. 
  • Contact Black Reenactors, and ask them about their experiences.  Even if you choose not to reenact with another black person, its important you get the perspective of someone who has actually reenacted while black.
  • Black Reenactors are highly sought after, because having a black person in a unit adds authenticity to the group.  Make sure that you are getting an equal experience out of it.  Are members willing to share research, or skills?  Are you being treated as a brother or the token black reenactor?
  • If you don't want to portray an enslaved person or even a Civil War contraband, do not let anyone try to shame you into doing so.  You'll hear a lot of comments like, "You should be proud of your ancestors," or "You would set a good example for your people."  They don't know what it's like to walk a day in your skin in the year 2018, let alone the mid 19th century.
• Research
  • Research is more important than clothes when reenacting specific places, events or people.
  • It's important to have a basic knowledge of American history and the events that impacted African American communities.  Check out our resource page to get started.
  • Once you have an overview you can choose a time period, event or war to focus on. Pick something that interest you, and run with it.  My focus when I got started was Antebellum Plantation Medical Care.  I went on to develop an enslaved midwife impression.  You can decide to reenact anyone you can research.
• Raiment/Clothing
  • Start with actual images of people from the period you want to interpret.
  • Not every image of a black person taken before the 20th century was an enslaved person.  If you did not get the information about an image from a academic source then keep looking.  Images are often mislabeled.  
  • To get started on your clothing click here.
• Represent!
  • You are joining a small group within another small group.  Your actions do reflect on all of us.

Cheyney McKnight