Join the Movement

Imagery plays a prevalent role in social movements as an engaging way to convey ideas and provide new perspectives. During the civil rights movement, photos were used to help connect people through highlighting and sharing the stories of protesters, activists, and the challenges that came with the inequality that faced many Black Americans. Humanity Behind the Movement hopes to create a public education program that will inform its visitors of the power that art and imagery have when used to further ideas, and within mass media to bring attention to prominent issues in today’s highly visual society. The education program will begin with an educator laying the foundation through an explanation of how art and media are used in meaningful ways to communicate universally. This idea will then be connected to the exhibition, specifically, how signs and images can deliver emotional messages and determine how the public will view a moment. For example, James Karales’ image Passive Resistance Training, SNCC gives viewers insight into what life was like behind the scenes and away from the front lines of the civil rights movement. The discussion will then be followed by an art project where participants will be able to utilize what they have learned by creating works that express their own meaningful message. Materials will be provided, and guests will have the option of making a button, a shirt, or a sign. For instance, one can make a shirt with a powerful message like “I am a Man” made with fabric markers; buttons with the face of influential people made out of newspaper cutouts; and or a sign that they can take out with them. We want this experience to not only inform guests but inspire the next generation of artists, activists, and change-makers.