Major Exhibition on Race Opens June 4 at Old U.S. Mint

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Arthur Smith
Louisiana State Museum 
504.568.6945
asmith@crt.la.gov

Jacques Berry
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
225.342.8607
jberry@crt.la.gov

Major Exhibition on Race Opens June 4 at Old U.S. Mint

NEW ORLEANS-May 11, 2011-The Louisiana Civil Rights Museum is presenting Race: Are we so different?, a traveling exhibit on the history, science and everyday experience of race. The exhibit is opening June 4 at the Old U.S. Mint in New Orleans.

“Race provides a powerful educational experience for visitors of all ages and backgrounds while encouraging constructive community dialogue about race,” Brenda Williams, interim advisory board chairwoman of the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum, said. “We are pleased to bring this exhibition to Louisiana as part of our mission to heal, educate, celebrate and engage for social justice.”

Using historic and contemporary photography, multimedia and interactive displays, Race explores issues of race and racism from three broad perspectives:

• Scientific—Visitors will find surprising answers to the question: “Are we so different?” In fact, human beings are more alike genetically than any other species.
• Historical—Exhibit traces how events, economics, politics and popular culture affect changing perceptions of race.
• Everyday experience—Interactive displays promote thinking about how we see ourselves and how we see others through the experience of race.

“This show has drawn large audiences at every museum on the national tour. It challenges accepted views about race with research from anthropology and other sciences, and it engages visitors with vibrant exhibit design,” Turry Flucker, Louisiana Civil Rights Museum project director, said.

Race: Are We So Different? is a project of the American Anthropological Association funded by the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation. The exhibition has been on national tour since 2007.

The Louisiana Civil Rights Museum was created in 1999 as part of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Race is co-sponsored by the Louisiana State Museum, Louisiana Commission on Human Rights, Louisiana Museum Foundation, the Friends of the Cabildo, YWCA of New Orleans and Fox 8 WVUE-TV.

Race is free to tour and will be open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from June 4 until Sept. 25. The Old U.S. Mint, located at 400 Esplanade Ave., is wheelchair accessible.

--www.crt.la.gov--