Margarette Joyner, UNC Charlotte Visiting Assistant Professor of Costume Design, has been busy designing and producing 12 historical costumes that merge African fabrics with contemporary fabrics and are embellished with colorful cowry shells. This collection spans from the 14th century through the 20th century and pays homage to African American men and women who lived lives of class and elegance. At the same time, UNC Charlotte alum Kimberly Henderson has been mining regional archives for photo documentation of late 19th and early 20th century African Americans whose lives were characterized by elegance and prosperity. When their work is combined, Joyner and Henderson create an important glimpse into the historical lives lived by African Americans. This exhibition will showcase all 12 of Joyner’s fashions alongside Henderson’s discovered period photographs and research. The key intent here is to defy the modern stereotype that all African Americans were enslaved and impoverished while celebrating a lesser known chapter in Black history.