Traveling Exhibitions
Within Our Gates: Oscar Micheaux
Breakthrough In Black: Black Cinema Before Mid-20th Century
The Unsung Protagonists: Black Cowboys
Oscar Micheaux was one of the preeminent African-American filmmakers and independently produced, directed, and distributed over 40 films from 1919 to 1948. The Within Our Gates poster exhibit includes 15 original posters from his groundbreaking work, inclusive of information about each film and other related memorabilia.
The Unsung Protagonists: Black Cowboys
Breakthrough In Black: Black Cinema Before Mid-20th Century
The Unsung Protagonists: Black Cowboys
The Black Cowboys exhibition consists of 20 posters from movies, Black rodeos, and exhibitions from the time period of 1922 to 1990. The selections celebrate what is often not portrayed in popular American culture, but the excitement and empowerment is not lost on underrepresentation. These Black protagonists address themes of racism, justice and the struggle for respect and equality.
Breakthrough In Black: Black Cinema Before Mid-20th Century
Breakthrough In Black: Black Cinema Before Mid-20th Century
Breakthrough In Black: Black Cinema Before Mid-20th Century
There are a range of “All-Black” films that were distributed between the early to mid-1900’s that broke barriers and challenged the industry for greater representation, yet 100 years later, are still relatively unknown. This exhibit houses over 50 posters from this era that deserve the right to be explored.
Paul Robeson
Breakthrough In Black: Black Cinema Before Mid-20th Century
A core part of The Black Canon Collection are the artifacts featuring Paul Robeson, a concert artist, stage and film actor, athlete, cultural scholar and activist. This exhibit consists of original movie posters, prints, playbills, flyers, and albums demonstrating his vast impact on the arts and society at large.
Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge (1922-1965) was an African-American actress and singer. She was the first African-American film star to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, which was for her performance in Carmen Jones. Other performances include Tarzan's Peril, Ebony Parade and Bright Road, among many others. This exhibit contains 20 multimedia items showcasing her range of talents and influence.
Can You Dig it? The Era of Blaxploitation
This vast exhibit encompasses nearly 60 posters from the Blaxploitation era, from Shaft to Claudine to The Mack to Sweet Sweet Back - widely considered the first Blaxploitation film, independently produced, written, filmed and directed by Melvin Van Peebles in 1971. Peak years for the genre were the 1970’s, where nearly 300 films were created.
Black Power: Civil Rights & Famous African-Americans
Black Power: Civil Rights & Famous African-Americans
This exhibit features posters and visual communications from the 1950s through the 1990s of famous African-Americans, flyers from organizations including the NAACP and the Black Panther Party, and other miscellaneous images. There are over 50 pieces in this collection.
Contemporary Films: 1960's through 1990's
Black Power: Civil Rights & Famous African-Americans
This exhibit features a range of posters and memorabilia throughout the decades of the 1960s to the 1990s. These films include a diverse set of genres and themes - both popular and hidden gems.
Art of the Ages: 1910's through 1990's
Art of the Ages: 1910's through 1990's
The Art of the Ages Exhibit features a curated selection from The Black Canon Collection, spanning the years 1910 to 1990. This multi-media exhibit traces the evolution of the portrayal of Black Americans in media, beginning with the harmful stereotypes and racist depictions seen in early works of the 20th Century.