Art Exhibit

Learning about slavery is not completely cut and dry. We all know that what went on was disgusting and that the entire slave trade was a tragedy, but everything you need to know is not going to be contained in an art exhibit. Although the art that has been created over the years do a good job of expressing the cruelty of the slave traders and owners, the hopelessness that many slaves felt for centuries, and the joy that beamed from their faces when they received news of emancipation, the entire story can’t be told through an art exhibit, there is too much else contributing to the story. This is why when you go to a slavery museum, there is so much information available to visitors. You do not simply walk around in an art exhibit at a slavery museum, and here are some of the reasons why.

1. Read about experiences – At a slavery museum, you may get a chance to read first hand accounts of the struggle. During the centuries of slavery, there were many slaves that actually kept diaries and journals of their daily activities, their innermost feelings, and how they deal with their issues. This type of intimate detail is not something you can find while browsing through an art exhibit. This is one of the best reasons why someone should visit a slavery museum.

2. Education – When visiting a slavery museum you will find many well informed curators as well as employees that can educate you about the time period. Not only will they explain paintings and drawings in an art exhibit, but they may tell you little known interesting facts about the artists, the people depicted in the works, and the stories behind the art as well. While an art exhibit gives you a better understanding about the emotions running during this time, visiting a slavery museum will give you the background information as well.

3. Speak about issues – Although it has not been constructed yet, the United States Slavery Museum is going to have a rather unique aspect to it. Not only will they be educating the public and providing an art exhibit, they will also have the slavery museum act as a gathering place for people to discuss important and sometimes controversial issues. There is no doubt that the art exhibit is going to be a large draw for people, but hopefully people will also use the forum to open up lines of dialogue.

Visiting a slavery museum is going to be a very educational experience, no matter who you are. There are many knowledgeable people that are employed by these institutions that can teach you a lot about art and African American history in general. Also, the art exhibit will certainly have a number of beautiful paintings, drawings, sculptures and more that all visitors can look through.

Slavery Museum

The need for a museum to house depictions of American slavery exists in a major way. What African Americans in this country went through for multiple centuries is mind boggling, and having a museum to remember the pain and anguish that was felt during these times can help assure that it never happens again. There are quite a few museums that have dedicated themselves to memorializing the struggle, as well as providing insight into African American history. Here are just a few of the museums that include slavery as one of their main focal points.

1. Afro-American Historical and Cultural Society Museum – This museum, as their name suggests, does not only deal with slavery. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, they also teach visitors about the history and culture of African descendants in this country (with its focus on the city itself), there is plenty of information about the civil rights movement, and the underground railroad’s role in the end of slavery as well.

2. African American Museum and Library at Oakland – This is another museum that increases awareness about a number of African American issues, with slavery being one of them. The library has entire archives that have collections of writings and speeches by or related to Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and many other key figures. The AAMLO has been around in one form or another since 1946.

3. America’s Black Holocaust Museum – This was created as a memorial for every single African American that suffered during the times of slavery. It was founded by James Cameron, a lynching survivor that just passed in 2006 for unrelated reasons. This museum has been dedicated to enlightening people about slavery has been around since 1988 and it can be found in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. People that visit the ABHM are educated about life in Africa before captivity, slavery of course, and problems that need to be dealt with today.

4. Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History – Located in Detroit, this institution was founded in 1965. It is currently housing the world’s largest permanent exhibit about African American Culture. There are entire collections that can be found there that delve into issues such as the underground railroad. There is also a collection with tons of information about Harriet Tubman and the contributions she made to runaway slaves in need.

All of these museums are great examples of places that are dedicating their time and effort to educating the public about a period of time in American history that will not, and should not, be forgotten. As long as there are organizations that are out there trying to bring light to this subject, it will never be forgotten. Find out what museums are in your area so that you can educate yourself about the fight for rights and the bravery it took to make significant changes in this country.

Slavery Art

Having depictions of slavery in a museum has been controversial in the past, but teaching people about the cruelty that occurred in previous years is very important. This opinion is obviously shared by the many museums that exist in the world, because the number of works that are displayed in a slavery art exhibit in these museums is not a small amount by any means. For those that have an interest in seeing an art exhibit that is displaying many interesting works of art dealing in slavery, here are some of the places you can go to view them. See if there is a museum close to your area.

1. Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery, Inc. – This is a gallery has an art exhibit that shows African history, an art exhibit that teaches visitors about the underground railroad, an art exhibit that explains the contributions that were made by African Americans in the building of the United States, and many more. The museum is located in Sandy Spring, Maryland where it hosts many visitors for most of the year. They even host two open houses every year where fees are waived completely.

2. International Slavery Museum – This museum is located in Liverpool, and is famous all over the world. Admission is completely free, although donations are welcome. The museum helps people understand slavery of the past and how it affects culture today. There is an art exhibit that contains information or depictions of many of the most infamous international cases of slavery, as well as an art exhibit that depicts trafficking of men, women, and children. The museum is changing all the time so an art exhibit that is there one day may be gone the next.

3. The United States Slavery Museum – Not yet in construction, this building is a project that has been proposed by citizens that will be a very important site in Washington D.C. when it finally comes to be. Its main goal will be to put the subject of slavery in the forefront so that the healing process may begin. There is still a racial divide present in the United States, but with this gallery, hopefully the open wounds can close even just a little bit.

Visiting an art exhibit can be a very educational experience, but to actually get a hold of the benefits that these museums are providing, people should actually get out of their chairs and give them a visit. Much of the emotion and pain of slavery can be seen and felt through artwork, and it can be a very enlightening experience. There are many exhibits that can be found all over the United States, and many internationally as well. Contact some of your local museums to see if they have any of this artwork or if they will at some point in the future.