A new exhibit at the New York Historical Society marks the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 14th Amendment. Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow examines the period following the Civil War as the nation’s black community struggled to be recognized as full citizens. Material in the exhibit also explores the backlash against their efforts, codified in the “separate but equal” Jim Crow Laws that were enforced from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century. The exhibit uses photographs, artifacts, and art to spotlight the advocacy of black Americans during this tumultuous period. It was curated by vice president of historical exhibitions Marci Reaven and assistant curator Lily Wong, with funding and support provided by the New York City Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Ford Foundation, as well as private donors.
Black Citizenship opens September 7 2018 and will remain on display at the organization’s Manhattan museum until March 3, 2019.