The Black History & Culture Collection is a not‑for‑profit initiative created to provide access to historical and cultural images of the African/Black Diaspora in the US and UK, gathered from content owned by Getty Images.
The Black History & Culture Collection was created for non‑commercial use to build on existing educational materials, paving the way for a deeper understanding of Black History. Additionally, the visuals found within the Black History & Culture Collection offer inspiration for educational projects.
The Educators
The Black History & Culture Collection was developed in collaboration with internationally recognized historians and educators Dr. Deborah Willis of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Jina DuVernay of Clark Atlanta University, Dr. Tukufu Zuberi of the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Mark Sealy MBE and Renée Mussai, both of British‑based international, non‑profitmaking, photographic arts agency Autograph.
The Methodology
The collection has been created through a methodology nurtured by educators. Their feedback, expertise and insight has supported the process in formulating the framework and future of the collection. For more information, please see the FAQ section below.
The History
We acknowledge that the historically dominant cultural structures that have built the photography industry and archives have been grounded in white supremacy dating back to the 19th century and beyond. This being the case, the Black experience has been often framed from a white gaze, informed by the ideology of white superiority, and associated structural racism.
Utilize this collection of rarely seen photographs to enhance and highlight untold stories from the past.
Utilize this collection of rarely seen photographs to enhance and highlight untold stories from the past.
The Content
The collection has launched with an initial focus on the histories of the African/Black Diaspora within the US and UK and includes images representing people, places, and events throughout history from the 19th century to the present day.
Do you have a project that requires historical content?
Request access below if you would like to use images from the Black History and Culture Collection in your educational project.
We're proud to be working with these organizations as they develop educational projects using these rarely seen before moments in history.
Why isn’t all of the content relevant to Black history and culture from Getty Images website included in the collection?
Because Getty Images is making this content available free of charge for non‑commercial uses, only content owned by Getty Images—as we own the copyright—can be licensed free of charge. We hope some of our content partners join us in this mission in the future.
Why is there missing historical events and people from the collection?
Part of the ongoing work of this collection will be to identify and fill those content gaps.
Why is Getty Images doing this?
Getty Images is committed to changing that. The Black History & Culture Collection is part of a broader program of activity that addresses the commitments Getty Images has made toward anti‑racism, inclusion, and dismantling discrimination. One of the commitments centers around granting broader access to Getty Images’ content for education and reflection on cultural heritage. For more information, see here.
Who can request to use this content?
Examples of its use could include learning materials within education projects. The collection is for projects that take Black history and culture as the central theme to educate audiences and inspire new narratives.
Note: As soon as a project moves into the realm of commercial—i.e., monetization from advertising, fees for broadcast, etc., the content will need to be licensed.
How long does it take to receive access to the collection?
Why isn’t all of the content relevant to Black history and culture from Getty Images website included in the collection?
Because Getty Images is making this content available free of charge for non‑commercial uses, only content owned by Getty Images—as we own the copyright—can be licensed free of charge. We hope some of our content partners join us in this mission in the future.
What happens if my work becomes commercial?
How many images can I download?
How can I put in a request to use this content now?
I am an owner of a selection of Black historical content, how can it be included in this project?
Who curated this content?
How was the content curated?
Historically, Getty Images and the photography industry have not worked from a foundation of diversity, equity, and inclusion. For too long, the historically dominant cultural structures that have built the photography industry and archives, such as the Hulton Archive, have been grounded in white supremacy dating back to the 19th Century and beyond.
Getty Images is committed to changing that. The Black History & Culture Collection is part of a wider program of activity that addresses the commitments Getty Images has made toward anti‑racism, inclusion, and dismantling discrimination. For more information, visit our Black Lives Matter statement.
Getty Images is committed to changing that. The Black History & Culture Collection is part of a wider program of activity that addresses the commitments Getty Images has made toward anti‑racism, inclusion, and dismantling discrimination. For more information, visit our Black Lives Matter statement.
