The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s exhibit, throughout Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom throughout the World, delves deeply into the lasting effects of colonialism and slavery. It draws attention to the tenacity and methods of achieving independence used by Black communities worldwide. The show started on December 13, 2024, and will be on display until June 8, 2025 at the Bank of America Special Exhibitions Gallery.
More than 100 objects, 250 photographs, and 10 multimedia interactives—including videos and oral histories—are all part of the exhibition’s dynamic mix. These components highlight the lingering effects of colonialism and slavery while tying the past to the present. One important element is the Unfinished Conversations archive, which features first-person accounts of slavery, colonialism, memory, and race from people all around the world.
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Contemporary art is also included in the display; some artists created brand-new pieces especially for this project. These works challenge colonial visual archives, uplift suppressed tales, and restore lost histories. Among the several items that expose visitors to the brutal reality of slavery is the hanging scale from Bahia, Brazil, in the 18th century. Other artifacts and installations explore themes of emancipation, resistance, and the effects of Black freedom-making on a worldwide scale.
International curators, academics, and community members have been working together for ten years to create this worldwide curatorial initiative. It envisions a future characterized by equality and justice while urging visitors to participate in a more comprehensive discussion about the entwined history of slavery, colonialism, and liberation.
