A discolored old passport photograph from the 1930s

A new book tells the story of Newark's 'activist collector' of African art

WNYC News | Feb 25, 2023

In 1938, an African American housekeeper and hairstylist from Newark, N.J., made a remarkable journey to South Africa, driven partly by her desire to understand her ancestral heritage. Lida Clanton Broner was also an activist, and during her trip she lectured and circulated among South Africa's Black intellectual elite.

She also collected art, and in a new book, “The Activist Collector,” curator and author Christa Clarke chronicles Broner’s remarkable life. Weekend All Things Considered host Tiffany Hanssen spoke with Clarke about Broner’s trip and the art she collected.

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