Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Civil Rights Movement: How We Learn About The Past Through Art


Today, November 4th, 2008, is THE day - by the end of it, America should know whether John McCain or Barack Obama will be our president. On such a historical day like today, my interest is taken much by the lengths it took for our country to come this far, when in the very recent past, our country was split black and white. Classrooms, restaurants, buses, etc. were all segregated. African Americans were being killed for merely trying to vote for president. Even in the 1980's there were parts of the country that did not sell property to interracial married couples. Although today for students my age it seems unbelievable to even grasp the tragedy of this kind discrimination, this is the world our parents and grandparents lived in. It is amazing to think that by the end of the day, if all goes well, our next president will be an African American man. In light of this election, I explored the World Wide Web for blogs dealing with art from or about the Civil Rights Movement. The first one I came across was by a multilingual art historian and museum curator named Homa T. Nasab, who used her blog for advertising an art exhibit at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta that has just closed last month in early October. The second, from an art writer, critic and professor from Washington D.C. named Tyler Green from his blog Modern Art Notes, who focuses on photographs taken during the Civil Rights Movement at elections or rallies in the south.

Comment #1
"The Civil Rights Movement At The High Museum Of Art"

Thank you for advertising what seems like an interesting and significant art exhibit in Atlanta. I only wish it could be open this month for the historical and relevant election we are experiencing today. The exhibit seems interesting because of its two parts - the first, photographs from the actual movement, and the second, the artists in the years after that were inspired by the movement. By including the image from the advertisement, I think it interests the reader more by giving them something to look at. I wish that you had done a little more research about the event after it opened. Perhaps you could have included people's feedback on the exhibit, or even your own if you were able to visit it. Additionally, some photographs or pieces from the exhibit could have enhanced the blog, and also inspired people by giving them a sneak peak of what they might see visiting the museum.

Comment #2
"Election Day, 44 Years On"

Your blog this morning about the election was very insightful and inspiring, thank you for your words. I liked how you opened the blog with the background on the murders of the three men who fought for a black man to vote, and how you connected it to the amazing election that is unfolding today. Also, your personal background allows the reader to see that many people are not as familiar with the subject as they may seem. The pictures you include are extremely powerful, and really provoke meditation on this day. Although I thought your introduction to the slideshow was very poignant, I would have loved to read more about the background of these photos that you have included – perhaps a more detailed caption. Overall, I loved your post and I look forward to reading more by you.

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