Newsletter Archives
Stewards & Custodians is written for a specific audience: those who see the intersection of Black culture, technology and capital as a defining opportunity of this moment. Each issue tracks what's happening inside The Obsidian Collection, from new archives joining our stewardship to the people and stories behind them, alongside the broader movement shaping the AI economy and the growing demand for accurate, rights-cleared cultural data. For those exploring what it means to invest in our expansion, this is where the full picture comes into focus, issue by issue.
Issue 1
This issue traces the urgent intersection of AI, capital, and Black cultural preservation, from the archives of four legendary photojournalists to the case for treating authentic Black historical data as an investable asset class. Inside, we also examine how AI companies are scanning and destroying rare books by the thousands, and why Black history may have been spared, not by protection, but by historical exclusion.
Issue 2
This issue covers Lonnie Bunch's departure from the Smithsonian and what it reveals about preserving Black history outside institutions that answer to political pressure, alongside the case for Black historical data as an untapped layer in the AI economy. We also share a remarkable 1920s–40s family archive from the grandson of Nathan K. McGill.
Issue 3
This issue makes the case that accurate cultural data matters more as AI accelerates, from Pew’s finding that AI misses Black adults’ real views by 15 points to former AI insiders warning the NYC Council that the industry is moving faster than it can control. It also marks Banned Books Week with a look at the stories being pulled from shelves, and invites readers to explore our Google Arts & Culture exhibits.
Coming Soon
The next issue of Stewards & Custodians is in the works, tracking the latest movement in archive acquisitions, cultural preservation and the AI data economy. Check back soon, or subscribe below so it lands directly in your inbox.
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