Current Exhibits
Jubilee: African American
Celebration
Dec. 7, 2008—Sept. 20, 2009
This colorful exhibition looks at African American holidays and celebrations
around the country. Many of these celebrations (Election Day, Pinkster
and John Canoe) no longer exist, while others (Big Quarterly and Mardi
Gras) are still celebrated regionally but are not as well known or widely
observed. Among the nearly 50 holidays featured are those created in response
to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The history of these celebrations
and other events—the homecoming festivities of historically black
colleges and universities; the annual events of African American fraternities,
sororities and secret societies; and more recently emerged traditions,
such as Kwanzaa, family reunions and Martin Luther King Jr. Day—are
presented through images of captured moments from throughout the years
and treasured artifacts along with traditional songs and regional folklore
related to holidays.
Christian Mayr,
Kitchen Ball at White Sulphur Springs, Virginia, 1838
Courtesy North Carolina Museum of Art
Separate
and Unequaled:
Black Baseball in the District of Columbia
On
view indefinitely
Back by popular demand after a recent successful run at the Historical
Society of Washington, D.C., a condensed version of this exhibition
is on view at the museum. From Reconstruction to the second half of
the 20th century, baseball, the great American pastime, was played
in Washington, D.C., on segregated fields. “Separate and Unequaled”
looks at the phenomenal popularity and community draw of this sport
when played by African Americans. Featured are such personalities
as Josh Gibson and “Buck” Leonard, star players of the
Negro Leagues most celebrated team, the Washington Homestead Grays.
The show also highlights community teams that gave rise to the various
amateur, collegiate and semi-pro black baseball teams and leagues.
For special viewing hours and tours, call 202.633.4844.
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