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PrintClayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc. sponsors nationally recognized RACE exhibit to be hosted by Duluth Children’s Museum at the Depot
Race is a recent human invention. Race is about culture, not biology. Race and racism are embedded in institutions and everyday life. These are the three overarching messages of a powerful new exhibit coming to Duluth later this month. “RACE – Are we so different?” will be hosted by the Duluth Children’s Museum at the Depot and is sponsored by Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc.
A project of American Anthropological Association in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota, RACE addresses the topics of race and racism from three different perspectives.
•Science: In this section of the exhibit, visitors will discover that human beings are more alike than any other living species, and no one gene or set of genes can support the idea of race.
•History: Ideas about race have been around for hundreds of years, and they have changed over time. This section of RACE demonstrates that – throughout American history – economic interests, popular culture, science, politics and the struggle for power have played a role in shaping our understanding of race.
•Everyday experience: Though race may not be a real biological concept, it certainly is real both socially and culturally. In this section of the exhibit, visitors will explore the personal experiences of race in our schools, neighborhoods, health care systems, sports and entertainment industries and more.
“RACE gives us an opportunity to step up and be a leader in the museum community when it comes to helping visitors explore race and racism, and tackle an issue that’s important to our community and our country,” said Michael Garcia, Duluth Children’s Museum President and CEO. “This exhibit is also very much in keeping with our history. We were founded by Mable Wing in 1930 in part to expose children to other world cultures they otherwise wouldn’t experience.”
“RACE aligns with our mission. We believe the exhibit has great potential to educate and involve our community,” added Scherrie Fosters, CJMM, Inc. Co-Chair. “We hope it will foster informed and important conversations about race and racism. In particular, we hope it will serve as a great teaching and learning venue for all of our educational institutions in the Northland community.”
Exhibit developers, designers and fabricators worked hard to make RACE an approachable exhibit that promotes discovery, discussion and reflection.
“I think people will be surprised by RACE,” says Garcia. “Race is a part of virtually every aspect of American society and culture and affects each of us in both small and profound ways. This exhibit challenges visitors of all ages and backgrounds to discover how race operates in their lives.”
RACE will be at the Duluth Children’s Museum at the Depot June 25 - Oct. 7, 2012. Open daily during the summer (closed Mondays after Labor Day). Admission is free to members of the Duluth Children’s Museum. A Depot pass also grants access to the exhibit ($12 for ages 13 and older, $6 for children 3-12, under age 3 is free.) Discounted rates for school tours and other groups are available by calling the Children’s Museum at 218-733-7543. Scholarships to cover group admissions are available through CJMM, Inc. Call 218-336-2990 to learn more.
Besides CJMM, Inc., local funding support for RACE has been provided by Northland Foundation, Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, Un-Fair Campaign, University of Minnesota Duluth, The College of St. Scholastica, Lake Superior College, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Marshall School and private donors.
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The Duluth Children’s Museum is a member of both the Association of Children's Museums and the Association of Science Technology Centers, Inc. It is committed to serving all children of our region, providing them a healthy, safe place to use their imagination, explore new ideas, develop social skills and learn through play.
Online: duluthchildrensmuseum.org.
Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc. is a voluntary board committed to honoring the memory of the 1920 lynching victims, Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie. Along with building the nationally acclaimed memorial, the group continues to foster racial justice in our community through education, reconciliation and healing.
Online: claytonjacksonmcghie.org.
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