In a pioneering effort, this study examined the participatory practices of the African American community in Texas using community archives and the role of information professionals. This dissertation is driven by two research questions that arise from the COVID-19 pandemic: Q1: What factors influence African American communities in Texas to engage in community archiving practices for inclusion in Black galleries, libraries, archives, and museums? and Q2: What role does the researcher play in advocating for the existence of African American community archives in Black cultural spaces? To explore the research questions, a qualitative triangulation approach was implemented, which involved a process guided by autoethnography. The literature on community archives primarily focused on the perspectives of white scholars within the archives field; as a result, a plethora of theories have been synthesized: archival theory, Black archival practice, community archives theory, Black feminist thought, social closure theory, and Black feminist anthropology, which culminated in a conceptual framework to guide the praxis and understand the function of African American community archiving as a theory. I collected data in four phases through online surveys, oral history interviews, and personal experience. According to the study, African Americans are eager to preserve their history but need greater support to do so effectively. The dissertation study confirms that including the Black community in the community archiving process is vital. Community participation and the participation of information professionals help to promote patron engagement and advocate for integrating African American community archives in Black galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (BGLAM).