2020-10-01 to 2021-01-31 - Atlantic County - Atlantic City - Black Lives Matter @ The African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey
Black Lives Matter
October 1, 2020 - January 31, 2021
Virtual Tour - October 29, 6:00 pm
The “Black Lives Matter” exhibit features sculpture, paintings, photographs, correspondence, and scenes of protest-related to resistance past and present. Lavett Ballard’s sculpture of a defiant Aunt Jemima sets a tone of protest that echoes the turbulence of the times. Artists Richmond Garrick, John Morris, Jose Perez, Kelley Prevard, and Melvin Lee Smith capture the history of African American protest on canvas. Photographs of John Lewis and portraits of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd share the gallery with images of Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass.
The African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey (AAHMSNJ) sprang from the passion of its founder, Ralph E. Hunter, Sr. After retiring from a long career in retail, Ralph began collecting cultural treasures that he stumbled on while traveling or just by being an astute observer of his surroundings. That’s a fancy way of saying he found some of his “treasures” on the curb on trash day.
Ralph’s apartment was affectionately referred to by his friends as “The Museum.” In 2002, his museum became a reality when he was offered a space by the mayor of Buena Vista Township. This allowed him to show off his treasures, put to use his talent for display, and share stories about the meaning behind the artifacts he collected — the first of which was a copy of “Little Black Sambo” by Helen Bannerman. Hunter had painful memories of that book growing up and bought it to take it off the market. That same book is now the centerpiece of a vast collection of paintings, ceramics and advertising and branding memorabilia that portrays African Americans in both a flattering and unflattering way. They may make some uncomfortable, but they also serve to start the larger conversation about the true African American experience.
The African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, Inc. is celebrating 15 years of highlighting the accomplishments and impact of African Americans in South Jersey and around the country. AAHMSNJ is a 501(c)3 non-profit with exhibit locations in Atlantic City and Newtonville, New Jersey. For more information about the exhibition, visit AAHMSNJ.org or call 609.350.6662.
Atlantic City Museum Hours:
Wednesday-Saturday 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission is FREE. Donations are encouraged.