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The Shabazz Center will host “Freedom’s Sisters,” a new traveling interactive exhibit honoring the work of 20 legendary African-American women. PHOTO: Sandra Garcia
Story by Sandra Garcia
Photos by QPHOTONYC and Sandra Garcia
History came to life in Washington Heights this past week with a new interactive exhibit that trained its focus on sometimes-obscure figures of the civil rights movement: women.
Historic African-American women were on display this past Fri., Dec. 2nd with “Freedom’s Sisters,” a new traveling exhibit at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center.
Filled with prominent women from all walks of life, the Shabazz Center served on Friday morning as host for a luncheon honoring the work of twenty historic black women. Among those selected for the exhibit were distinguished figures such as Ida B. Wells, Sonia Sanchez, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King.
“We didn’t pick these women; people in academia picked them,” explained Pamela Alexander, the director of Community Development and Fund Operations at the Ford Motor Company, one of the key sponsors of the traveling exhibit.
The exhibit was conceived as a collaboration between the Ford Motor Company, the Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and the Cincinnati Museum Center. Since opening in Cincinnati in 2008, the exhibit has toured cities throughout the United States, including California, Georgia and Michigan.
It has now reached New York City at the Shabazz Center, where it will be installed until March 2012.
The interactive exhibit brings to life various key 19th-century historical figures as well as contemporary leaders, and is organized around such themes as "Dare to Dream" and "Inspire Lives” with striking photographic images, electronic projections and video.
Many in attendance expressed amazement.
“I think this is wonderful. They even have some women I didn’t know were a part of history,” said Gayle Samuels, an attendee at the luncheon.
“Sisters” provoked avid discussion among attendees as to the historic women presented, as well as some debate as to some who were not.
“I can not believe they didn’t add Angela Davis. She was iconic!” said Digna Sanchez, Assistant Commissioner for the Department of Aging.
Whatever the conversation, “Sisters” clearly served to spark a dialogue on extraordinary women, the “mothers and grandmothers,” as explained in the exhibit’s mission, of a movement.
Designed to educate and highlight the capabilities and strength possessed by women, the exhibit is intended to attract audiences of all ages, including schoolchildren from throughout the city.
There will also be a series of education and community engagement opportunities for local audiences, including an essay competition for children in the 4th through 8th grades.
“This is so informative.” said Gwen Moten, a leading cultural and civic leader who had traveled from New Jersey. “It’s great to see a group that has not forgotten about our past.”
For more information on “Freedom’s Sisters,” please visit www.theshabazzcenter.net or call 212.568.1341.
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