CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The many significant and historical contributions of Black writers are now recognized in a new immersive multimedia exhibit at the American Writers Museum (AWM) on Michigan Avenue in the Loop.
“Dark Testament: A Century of Black Writers on Justice" explores the impact that Black authors have had on American history, from the Civil War to the civil rights movement.
“The themes that they touched on, and how those themes are so prevalent and important today in American writing,” said AWM president Carey Cranston.
In addition to highlighting the works of prominent Black writers such as Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Frederick Douglass, visitors will gain exposure to lesser-known writers like Pauli Murray; whose poetry collection titled “Dark Testament” inspired the name of the exhibit.
“Our curatorial team on this project was a group of African American scholars and writers from across the United States,” Cranston said. “They really gave a depth of knowledge to who we should be looking at, what are the themes that tie this together, and what are some of the most relevant periods in this history that we needed to look at.”
The exhibit will run for about one year and will also feature offshoot displays. For example, an entire corner of the AWM will be dedicated to the Black press, and how it acted as a platform for so many voices to be heard through publishers, newspapers and bookstores.
Local artists also contributed to “Dark Testament.”
“I did portraits of Malcom X, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and Ma Rainey," said Bernard Williams, a Chicago-area painter and sculptor.
That last name on his list, Ma Rainey, isn’t someone usually associated with literature, but Williams shared why he chose to focus on her.
“To introduce the writings of a singer to the canon of important Black writers in America, I think is pretty unique … I mean blues music I think has been the impact, and she was a pretty dynamic singer,” Williams said.
The portrait hall consists of sixteen large portraits created by four local artists: Williams, Dorothy Burge, Damon Reed, and Dorian Sylvain.
The AWM will hold a number of workshops during the show’s run, including reading and writing workshops, as well as special introductions to genres such as “Artivism,” where attendees learn to incorporate art into their activism.
Bestselling illustrator Nikkolas Smith, who did the illustrations for Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson’s “The 1619 Project: Born on the Water,” held the first of these artivism workshops at the AWM in mid-September.
Smith, a Houston native, gained the attention of the world when former first lady Michelle Obama shared his portrait of George Floyd on social media in May of 2020.
The American Writers Museum’s “Dark Testament: A Century of Black Writers on Justice" is open now.
Related
Related
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram