History is not simply a chronology of events that happened in a particular order. History is a meticulously curated phenomenon of power. How history is created -and who gets to tell that story- has one of the most significant impacts on our society. But we never talk about it. In this talk, we’re going to! We will explore how history is constructed and how we can use that knowledge to create the legacy for which we want to be remembered. We will learn about the roles of presence and absence in history-making and how those who leverage those roles often control power. We will also discuss practical ways in which we can all reclaim our personal agency and drive the narrative that will become our lives, our families, and our society. Learning Objectives: + Discover the secrets to history-making that have remained unchanged for centuries. + Learn how to actively write your own story in the way you’d wish to be remembered. + Take-away four techniques to help harness the power of your own story."

1. THE STORY O F
YOU
Dominique Luster
EST. 2022

2. MALI EMPIRE
Mansa Musa

3. history is not just about dates
and facts; it's about stories

4. YOU
The Story of
Ho w the sto r y gets cr ea ted a n d to l d

5. The events of the past don’t
change, but our perspective
and interpretation of them
can.

6. history does not just happen.
It is a "curated" system based on
what is selected to be remembered
and what is not.

7. Hey there!
I'm Dominique
Luster.
Archivist
ar·chi·vist
(noun)
• a person who maintains and is in charge of archives.
The Luster Company
The Luster Company is an archival consulting community that
specializes in uplifting and unearthing the often marginalized
voices of Black folk in America.
www.thelustercompany.com

8. I tell stories because
of a woman named
Charity.
I am the daughter of Shenita.
Shenita is the daughter of Othella.
Othella is the daughter of Lula.
Lula is the daughter of Daisy.
Daisey is the daughter of Prudie.
Prudie is the daughter of Charity.
Charity was born enslaved in Oldham County,
Kentucky.

9. IF HISTORY WAS A FORMULA
The event the evidence the reciever

10. YOU
The Story of
Ho w the sto r y gets cr ea ted a n d to l d

11. DOCUMENT THE NOW
WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND
1
project 01

12. DON’T BE AFRAID OF TRADITIONAL
MEMORY-KEEPING PRACTICES
2
project 01

13. KEEP AN EYE ON
COST, COHESION, AND CAUSE
3
project 01

14. SERVICE OVER STATUS
WE OVER ME
4
project 01

15. REFLECTIONS FROM A PLAYWRIGHT & POET
“I write for young girls of color,
for girls who don’t even exist
yet, so that there is something
there for them when they
arrive.”
-Ntozake Shange

16. YOU
The Story of
Ho w the sto r y gets cr ea ted a n d to l d

17. Talk to Me!
www.thelustercompany.com
@thelustercompany