February 14, 2012

           The 1960’s was a time of tribulation, but in the end a decade marked by triumph both in regards to women’s suffrage and to the Civil Rights movement.  Slavery and racial incongruity had predominantly been present in the south, but as colored men and women began to migrate north, the truth of segregation became harder to ignore. 

            Upon entering the “Becoming Equal” exhibit at the Virginia Historical Society, one cannot help but feel overwhelmed by the elements within it.  Behind a faded-green couch and mock living room setup, I was taken by a six-foot-something tall man, dressed in the uniform worn by members of the KKK.  Undeniably, the question of modernity is raised by that: are technological advances and widespread media a source of the problem? 

Amidst a time of segregation in the 1960’s, people witnessed current happenings on television, a relatively-new household addition.  Also, with the technological advances came a wider spread of information, and heightened knowledge of the Civil Rights movement at large.  With this, the involvement of society was greater, and riots broke out nationwide as citizens stepped up to play a role in the Civil Rights movement.  The television, as well as newspaper articles on the wall demonstrate the ways the media played a role in the Civil Rights movement and struggles in the 1960’s to obtain and uphold “true” equality. 

In “Becoming Equal,” different pieces are interlaced to make the fabric of the display, all in a strategic and rhetorical manner.  The physical elements, including the restaurant counter representing the time when black men performed “sit-ins” in white-dominant restaurants, are alluring.  One’s eyes become fixed on the familiar items marked by captions that told of their racist history.  The “Becoming Equal” exhibit has a few locations filled with clusters of descriptions and artifacts which are presented in a series of specific groups.  One, for example, is the living room scene with a couch, carpet, television, and picture frames on the wall with images of church outcries, and key figures from the decade like Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy. 

            The exhibit embeds itself in the Civil Rights debate on the merits of equality.  It clearly takes a side, and casts an unfavorable light on black-spiting Americans, such as members of the KKK and those who refused to allow interracial buses.  In politics, especially, the most successful candidates were those who supported white-dominant tendencies, which seemed very significant. 

The matter of religious support and religious discrimination is evident as well.  In the section with the KKK member, the plaque mentions how KKK members used Christianity and scripture to support their mistreatment of black people.  Conversely, though, framed pictures on the walls illustrate how some religious groups sought unity amidst a world of hatred.  One of the pictures frames in particular displays a picture from “The Episcopal Society for Cultural and Racial Unity,” showing a white and black man praying to the Lord by one another.  Clearly, some wanted unity and not separation for all people. 

The stark contrast of the KKK member nearby the religious pictures which instill hope for equality is significant, but also poses one challenge for the exhibit as a whole.  If visitors are attempting to make sense of events during the Civil Rights, one might be startled by the ways different members of the same religious group practiced their faith so differently.  There is no linkage between the two items, but merely an unresolved scenario, in which one group clearly sees hatred as the solution while others seek out harmony with all people instead.  One is left to wonder, “Why?”

Strengths of the “Becoming Equal” exhibit include jaw-dropping information, which has the power to tug at the hearts of visitors.  The evil and judgmental look in the eyes of the KKK member may make the exhibit’s audience members feel as though they have done something wrong, likely as the persecuted felt at that time.  As one’s eyes are diverted to the sit-in counter across the way, it is tempting to sit down on a barstool, and pretend as though you are stepping back in time to take part in the 1960’s.  If the words on the walls have resonated, one might realize the hesitancy many black people felt in white-designated areas, where they were not welcome.  Perhaps this feeling could be part of the exhibit, as no signs clearly mark where museum visitors can or cannot sit.  I know I caught myself looking left, then right, as I sat on the 60’s-style couch, and then bar stool, to try and put myself back in that decade.

The level of engagement at the “Becoming Equal” exhibit contributes to its overall strength, while the scattered nature of the religious pieces poses an interesting tension.  Overall, however, if the goal of the exhibit is to evoke strong emotion and help viewers understand how hard the 60’s were, curators were successful.  Additionally, it fits into the museum nicely as it takes a significant time in American history (the 60’s) and shows both the struggles and the triumph of the decade. 

Whitney