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Exhibiting the African Imaginary | Monique Scott | TEDxBrynMawrCollege


I hear so excited to talk to you today

I hear so excited to talk to you today about in imaginary apparent thought

about in imaginary apparent thought

about in imaginary apparent thought about what comes to mind when you

about what comes to mind when you

about what comes to mind when you imagine when you’re magic when you’re

imagine when you’re magic when you’re

imagine when you’re magic when you’re imagine and of course abaca in a real

imagine and of course abaca in a real

imagine and of course abaca in a real place into not only a real place that’s

place into not only a real place that’s

place into not only a real place that’s real places the diversity of experiences

real places the diversity of experiences

real places the diversity of experiences 53 countries village quarterly people

53 countries village quarterly people

53 countries village quarterly people when the languages spoken thousands of

when the languages spoken thousands of

when the languages spoken thousands of thousands of years of history and our

thousands of years of history and our

thousands of years of history and our culture politics philosophy furniture

culture politics philosophy furniture

culture politics philosophy furniture yet what do many non-active imagine when

yet what do many non-active imagine when

yet what do many non-active imagine when they imagine Africa so this is an

they imagine Africa so this is an

they imagine Africa so this is an exhibition from the High Museum

exhibition from the High Museum

exhibition from the High Museum temporary exhibit called to do exactly

temporary exhibit called to do exactly

temporary exhibit called to do exactly that ask them how do you imagine

that ask them how do you imagine

that ask them how do you imagine and I remember I took my museum

and I remember I took my museum

and I remember I took my museum anthropology class to this exhibit last

anthropology class to this exhibit last

anthropology class to this exhibit last year and one of the students said why do

year and one of the students said why do

year and one of the students said why do I get to imagine Africa my way home from

I get to imagine Africa my way home from

I get to imagine Africa my way home from New York and she’s exactly right

New York and she’s exactly right

New York and she’s exactly right however there are still circulating to

however there are still circulating to

however there are still circulating to come your culture this idea a little

come your culture this idea a little

come your culture this idea a little imaginary Africa enormous complicated

imaginary Africa enormous complicated

imaginary Africa enormous complicated content and any and as an anthropologist

content and any and as an anthropologist

content and any and as an anthropologist and as a black woman I had to reconcile

and as a black woman I had to reconcile

and as a black woman I had to reconcile my own deeply held imagining of American

my own deeply held imagining of American

my own deeply held imagining of American continent and my discipline the

continent and my discipline the

continent and my discipline the discipline of anthologies told

discipline of anthologies told

discipline of anthologies told deeply-held magazine of the African

deeply-held magazine of the African

deeply-held magazine of the African continent which often is Africa has a

continent which often is Africa has a

continent which often is Africa has a systemic and primitive as none at all

systemic and primitive as none at all

systemic and primitive as none at all and I

and I

and I feedback museum representations of

feedback museum representations of

feedback museum representations of Africa matter and I believe that

Africa matter and I believe that

Africa matter and I believe that representations of black bodies matter

representations of black bodies matter

representations of black bodies matter because black lives matter as long as

because black lives matter as long as

because black lives matter as long as blackness and what people are the value

blackness and what people are the value

blackness and what people are the value and hgr lives whether it’s in

and hgr lives whether it’s in

and hgr lives whether it’s in anthropology in mediums

anthropology in mediums

anthropology in mediums in popular culture are all the strengths

in popular culture are all the strengths

in popular culture are all the strengths of Ferguson I have to think about where

of Ferguson I have to think about where

of Ferguson I have to think about where that comes from and how anthropology has

that comes from and how anthropology has

that comes from and how anthropology has helped construct backbite Dena of

helped construct backbite Dena of

helped construct backbite Dena of blackness a racial hierarchy of

blackness a racial hierarchy of

blackness a racial hierarchy of blackness on the bottom and I think

blackness on the bottom and I think

blackness on the bottom and I think about how anthropology and whose ends

about how anthropology and whose ends

about how anthropology and whose ends can help in construct that idea someone

can help in construct that idea someone

can help in construct that idea someone happens in museums

happens in museums

happens in museums often perhaps by necessity communicate

often perhaps by necessity communicate

often perhaps by necessity communicate an imaginary Africa to its collect by

an imaginary Africa to its collect by

an imaginary Africa to its collect by nature of this rather reductive or

nature of this rather reductive or

nature of this rather reductive or anecdotic landscape of of dioramas I

anecdotic landscape of of dioramas I

anecdotic landscape of of dioramas I worked in New York

worked in New York

worked in New York history for 410 crate meters and the

history for 410 crate meters and the

history for 410 crate meters and the diagram is that carefully without such

diagram is that carefully without such

diagram is that carefully without such history earth beautiful and abundant for

history earth beautiful and abundant for

history earth beautiful and abundant for the most part but they are static

the most part but they are static

the most part but they are static representations of life so even though

representations of life so even though

representations of life so even though my ologist paleontologists wrestled with

my ologist paleontologists wrestled with

my ologist paleontologists wrestled with the meanings communicated by the static

the meanings communicated by the static

the meanings communicated by the static representations but static

representations but static

representations but static representations of culture are all the

representations of culture are all the

representations of culture are all the work troubling especially when they

work troubling especially when they

work troubling especially when they carry a week of institutional Authority

carry a week of institutional Authority

carry a week of institutional Authority so I can’t even have a history there is

so I can’t even have a history there is

so I can’t even have a history there is there’s an applicant substitutionary

there’s an applicant substitutionary

there’s an applicant substitutionary their commitment of playing out where we

their commitment of playing out where we

their commitment of playing out where we move from directly from Hall of African

move from directly from Hall of African

move from directly from Hall of African mammals that eat Lee Hall of African

mammals that eat Lee Hall of African

mammals that eat Lee Hall of African mammals where you have the gorilla diver

mammals where you have the gorilla diver

mammals where you have the gorilla diver and the three of African elephants and

and the three of African elephants and

and the three of African elephants and you move directly from that call into

you move directly from that call into

you move directly from that call into the Hall of African peoples where you

the Hall of African peoples where you

the Hall of African peoples where you have this diet of pygmies in the

have this diet of pygmies in the

have this diet of pygmies in the rainforest and by the way the mat

rainforest and by the way the mat

rainforest and by the way the mat tournament is where agent finds it so

tournament is where agent finds it so

tournament is where agent finds it so because to be impressed apart from the

because to be impressed apart from the

because to be impressed apart from the Natural History Museum to hang out with

Natural History Museum to hang out with

Natural History Museum to hang out with the other hand elevate the cultures but

the other hand elevate the cultures but

the other hand elevate the cultures but so Tarrant octa is often reduced or bind

so Tarrant octa is often reduced or bind

so Tarrant octa is often reduced or bind to these imaginary luggage the jungles

to these imaginary luggage the jungles

to these imaginary luggage the jungles and

and

and of that I have wondered sometimes why

of that I have wondered sometimes why

of that I have wondered sometimes why aren’t there dioramas of Nairobi and

aren’t there dioramas of Nairobi and

aren’t there dioramas of Nairobi and Lagos and Johannesburg or New York City

Lagos and Johannesburg or New York City

Lagos and Johannesburg or New York City for that matter

[Applause]

[Applause] maybe with 40 characters in the back so

maybe with 40 characters in the back so

maybe with 40 characters in the back so an interesting element for complicated

an interesting element for complicated

an interesting element for complicated reasons I have always loved anthropology

reasons I have always loved anthropology

reasons I have always loved anthropology and I have also deeply loved old museums

and I have also deeply loved old museums

and I have also deeply loved old museums and sometimes these these relationships

and sometimes these these relationships

and sometimes these these relationships these love affairs were very toxic and

these love affairs were very toxic and

these love affairs were very toxic and very troubling although you keep coming

very troubling although you keep coming

very troubling although you keep coming back to each other over and over again

back to each other over and over again

back to each other over and over again so I went to graduate school at Yale to

so I went to graduate school at Yale to

so I went to graduate school at Yale to study this plant ecology to study

study this plant ecology to study

study this plant ecology to study environment apology and I loved the

environment apology and I loved the

environment apology and I loved the science of human evolution and it was

science of human evolution and it was

science of human evolution and it was very exciting for me to be able on

very exciting for me to be able on

very exciting for me to be able on excavations with my my advisor there the

excavations with my my advisor there the

excavations with my my advisor there the British neonatologist and martini lover

British neonatologist and martini lover

British neonatologist and martini lover and groom peril and hey I love hearing

and groom peril and hey I love hearing

and groom peril and hey I love hearing the old stories over jenny wyeth with

the old stories over jenny wyeth with

the old stories over jenny wyeth with the arrow and sometimes Richard Leakey

the arrow and sometimes Richard Leakey

the arrow and sometimes Richard Leakey and over the years however I became and

and over the years however I became and

and over the years however I became and they were event enough

they were event enough

they were event enough a certain spectral or time or excitement

a certain spectral or time or excitement

a certain spectral or time or excitement the Black Canyon

the Black Canyon

the Black Canyon francelina the national team’s of Kenya

francelina the national team’s of Kenya

francelina the national team’s of Kenya and it really changed my perspective and

and it really changed my perspective and

and it really changed my perspective and do absolutely call your attention to the

do absolutely call your attention to the

do absolutely call your attention to the man cut out of this brain which is an

man cut out of this brain which is an

man cut out of this brain which is an unintentional but poignant statement on

unintentional but poignant statement on

unintentional but poignant statement on visibility and invisibility of black

visibility and invisibility of black

visibility and invisibility of black bodies during this field work and I

bodies during this field work and I

bodies during this field work and I remember once an American graduate

remember once an American graduate

remember once an American graduate student once told me well of her we were

student once told me well of her we were

student once told me well of her we were there at the National Museums of Canada

there at the National Museums of Canada

there at the National Museums of Canada she said anything in Nairobi during an

she said anything in Nairobi during an

she said anything in Nairobi during an outside the usual season there’s nobody

outside the usual season there’s nobody

outside the usual season there’s nobody around three million people living in

around three million people living in

around three million people living in Nairobi as any of which work at the

Nairobi as any of which work at the

Nairobi as any of which work at the National Museums of Kenya so this is a

National Museums of Kenya so this is a

National Museums of Kenya so this is a very complicated and confusing time for

very complicated and confusing time for

very complicated and confusing time for me as a black biologist or the black

me as a black biologist or the black

me as a black biologist or the black anthropologist and although anthropology

anthropologist and although anthropology

anthropologist and although anthropology has you know over here is it comes to

has you know over here is it comes to

has you know over here is it comes to and for months that is one and all

and for months that is one and all

and for months that is one and all disappointed we are all passionate under

disappointed we are all passionate under

disappointed we are all passionate under our skin but we’re not all experiencing

our skin but we’re not all experiencing

our skin but we’re not all experiencing anti black racism in the same way so

anti black racism in the same way so

anti black racism in the same way so where does this this anti black racist

where does this this anti black racist

where does this this anti black racist that is that is certainly and threw out

that is that is certainly and threw out

that is that is certainly and threw out an apology for the penalty where did

an apology for the penalty where did

an apology for the penalty where did they come from

so president today come from a long

so president today come from a long history of identity black people exhibit

history of identity black people exhibit

history of identity black people exhibit a black bodies in an apology and and the

a black bodies in an apology and and the

a black bodies in an apology and and the World’s Fair so the top right there you

World’s Fair so the top right there you

World’s Fair so the top right there you have a falsely instructed African

have a falsely instructed African

have a falsely instructed African village at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

village at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

village at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair thought of them left difficult to seeing

thought of them left difficult to seeing

thought of them left difficult to seeing it or to feel an image of quote-unquote

it or to feel an image of quote-unquote

it or to feel an image of quote-unquote Hottentot Venus or quarter folks their

Hottentot Venus or quarter folks their

Hottentot Venus or quarter folks their apartment the place on woman who was

apartment the place on woman who was

apartment the place on woman who was paraded around Europe in the 19th early

paraded around Europe in the 19th early

paraded around Europe in the 19th early 19th century and we have Oh Topanga what

19th century and we have Oh Topanga what

19th century and we have Oh Topanga what if he means who was first displayed in

if he means who was first displayed in

if he means who was first displayed in the st. Louis World’s Fair in 1903 and

the st. Louis World’s Fair in 1903 and

the st. Louis World’s Fair in 1903 and then a terrific Bronx Zoo in 1906

then a terrific Bronx Zoo in 1906

then a terrific Bronx Zoo in 1906 throughout the block history isn’t that

throughout the block history isn’t that

throughout the block history isn’t that these black individuals were performing

these black individuals were performing

these black individuals were performing race and to accommodate a Western

race and to accommodate a Western

race and to accommodate a Western consulate Old West representing the

consulate Old West representing the

consulate Old West representing the iconic primitive or counter to the

iconic primitive or counter to the

iconic primitive or counter to the civilized European present

so you hand around

so you hand around so this is an image from the air from

so this is an image from the air from

so this is an image from the air from using the natural history and over the

using the natural history and over the

using the natural history and over the years I started to become really

years I started to become really

years I started to become really interested and concerned with how all

interested and concerned with how all

interested and concerned with how all visitors to the Americas in Manhattan

visitors to the Americas in Manhattan

visitors to the Americas in Manhattan history were comforting African origins

history were comforting African origins

history were comforting African origins explains the sick so I would instruct on

explains the sick so I would instruct on

explains the sick so I would instruct on visitors during lunch break so I was

visitors during lunch break so I was

visitors during lunch break so I was working in labs over the summer and in

working in labs over the summer and in

working in labs over the summer and in front of this diagram of Homo ergaster

front of this diagram of Homo ergaster

front of this diagram of Homo ergaster the species that live did happen more

the species that live did happen more

the species that live did happen more than a million years ago and its couple

than a million years ago and its couple

than a million years ago and its couple carving means and burning off losing

carving means and burning off losing

carving means and burning off losing factors on the savanna and over very

factors on the savanna and over very

factors on the savanna and over very provocative conversation between a white

provocative conversation between a white

provocative conversation between a white mother and her son and the son he asked

mother and her son and the son he asked

mother and her son and the son he asked his mother mom why don’t we look like

his mother mom why don’t we look like

his mother mom why don’t we look like that anymore

that anymore

that anymore the mom thought for a minute and then

the mom thought for a minute and then

the mom thought for a minute and then simply responded because he left talk

simply responded because he left talk

simply responded because he left talk about so this whole rationale to his

about so this whole rationale to his

about so this whole rationale to his rationale to holding me and inspired a

rationale to holding me and inspired a

rationale to holding me and inspired a whole series of questions the first kid

whole series of questions the first kid

whole series of questions the first kid counted leaving Africa become a

counted leaving Africa become a

counted leaving Africa become a mechanism for her evolutionary progress

mechanism for her evolutionary progress

mechanism for her evolutionary progress as a very old infant logical story that

as a very old infant logical story that

as a very old infant logical story that European small because they left after

European small because they left after

European small because they left after that

that

that and then we know that it’s not only

and then we know that it’s not only

and then we know that it’s not only hominids or beat men effect evolved in

hominids or beat men effect evolved in

hominids or beat men effect evolved in Africa but sophisticated humans Homo

Africa but sophisticated humans Homo

Africa but sophisticated humans Homo sapiens evolved in Africa and we have as

sapiens evolved in Africa and we have as

sapiens evolved in Africa and we have as I can with my friend will even come an

I can with my friend will even come an

I can with my friend will even come an ancestor that lived around 100,000 years

ancestor that lived around 100,000 years

ancestor that lived around 100,000 years ago so became really apparent to me that

ago so became really apparent to me that

ago so became really apparent to me that we have not thought this image of modern

we have not thought this image of modern

we have not thought this image of modern culturally sophisticated modern humans

culturally sophisticated modern humans

culturally sophisticated modern humans evolving in Africa out to in museums and

evolving in Africa out to in museums and

evolving in Africa out to in museums and in visual language so excited to

in visual language so excited to

in visual language so excited to formally studied museum visitors and

formally studied museum visitors and

formally studied museum visitors and study how museum visitors interpret

study how museum visitors interpret

study how museum visitors interpret their applicant evolutionary origins

their applicant evolutionary origins

their applicant evolutionary origins those should not only what they get from

those should not only what they get from

those should not only what they get from exhibitions they look at diversity next

exhibitions they look at diversity next

exhibitions they look at diversity next vision but what people bring to the

vision but what people bring to the

vision but what people bring to the exhibition these old cultural stories of

exhibition these old cultural stories of

exhibition these old cultural stories of the imperative and how they project that

the imperative and how they project that

the imperative and how they project that on to what they see and so of course of

on to what they see and so of course of

on to what they see and so of course of my research I work with four museums in

my research I work with four museums in

my research I work with four museums in three different countries I worked at

three different countries I worked at

three different countries I worked at the American Museum

the American Museum

the American Museum Germany won state I worked at the

Germany won state I worked at the

Germany won state I worked at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi and

National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi and

National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi and I worked at the Natural History Museum

I worked at the Natural History Museum

I worked at the Natural History Museum London and the Horniman Museum London

London and the Horniman Museum London

London and the Horniman Museum London and that displaces I talk to museum

and that displaces I talk to museum

and that displaces I talk to museum visitors I also did a lot of work with

visitors I also did a lot of work with

visitors I also did a lot of work with the teachers and the school children and

the teachers and the school children and

the teachers and the school children and I talked with kari byron

when it talks people and then more

when it talks people and then more formally I surveyed perspectives of

formally I surveyed perspectives of

formally I surveyed perspectives of around 500 different museum visitors

around 500 different museum visitors

around 500 different museum visitors more than a hundred visitors act in each

more than a hundred visitors act in each

more than a hundred visitors act in each site and what I found

site and what I found

site and what I found overwhelmingly is that there is a

overwhelmingly is that there is a

overwhelmingly is that there is a dominant narrative there is a leaveth

dominant narrative there is a leaveth

dominant narrative there is a leaveth fact many non-black visitors are not any

fact many non-black visitors are not any

fact many non-black visitors are not any visitors were turning their African

visitors were turning their African

visitors were turning their African evolutionary origins and it does go back

evolutionary origins and it does go back

evolutionary origins and it does go back to this as a color coded narrative of

to this as a color coded narrative of

to this as a color coded narrative of progress from Africa to Europe and this

progress from Africa to Europe and this

progress from Africa to Europe and this persistent variety actions and the types

persistent variety actions and the types

persistent variety actions and the types of things that people would say to me

of things that people would say to me

of things that people would say to me and I will share that I also hear it’s

and I will share that I also hear it’s

and I will share that I also hear it’s the whole types of perceptions and

the whole types of perceptions and

the whole types of perceptions and experiences and obviously perceptions

experiences and obviously perceptions

experiences and obviously perceptions are very complicated and I did I did

are very complicated and I did I did

are very complicated and I did I did have an amazing mind-blowing planet talk

have an amazing mind-blowing planet talk

have an amazing mind-blowing planet talk to him learning from the pinyin

to him learning from the pinyin

to him learning from the pinyin that I said I work with and there’s

that I said I work with and there’s

that I said I work with and there’s interesting so again as I mentioned this

interesting so again as I mentioned this

interesting so again as I mentioned this sort of thing is the dominant narrative

sort of thing is the dominant narrative

sort of thing is the dominant narrative so on the left you have an image from

so on the left you have an image from

so on the left you have an image from 1868 from the American influential

1868 from the American influential

1868 from the American influential American polygynous not linen who

American polygynous not linen who

American polygynous not linen who created this sort of skill progress and

created this sort of skill progress and

created this sort of skill progress and you’ll note the quote unquote fever of

you’ll note the quote unquote fever of

you’ll note the quote unquote fever of jaw in its jaw is artificially extended

jaw in its jaw is artificially extended

jaw in its jaw is artificially extended and on the right here we have an image

and on the right here we have an image

and on the right here we have an image from the natural history there it is

from the natural history there it is

from the natural history there it is so recycled over the years that they

so recycled over the years that they

so recycled over the years that they kind of became angling it drenched in

kind of became angling it drenched in

kind of became angling it drenched in the popular imagination through any

the popular imagination through any

the popular imagination through any plentiful discourse which emphasizes

plentiful discourse which emphasizes

plentiful discourse which emphasizes evolution Out of Africa I think being

evolution Out of Africa I think being

evolution Out of Africa I think being the cradle of humanity has become sort

the cradle of humanity has become sort

the cradle of humanity has become sort of a double-edged sword so it’s the kind

of a double-edged sword so it’s the kind

of a double-edged sword so it’s the kind of the continent permits we arose and

of the continent permits we arose and

of the continent permits we arose and eventually escaped and it’s almost like

eventually escaped and it’s almost like

eventually escaped and it’s almost like the

the

the would be the cradle of humanity but work

would be the cradle of humanity but work

would be the cradle of humanity but work is the finishing school

probably from this from a discipline

probably from this from a discipline that I love into and try to make news

that I love into and try to make news

that I love into and try to make news stories that’s why I worked at they’re

stories that’s why I worked at they’re

stories that’s why I worked at they’re losing enact history for ten years doing

losing enact history for ten years doing

losing enact history for ten years doing analogical education so now I briefly

analogical education so now I briefly

analogical education so now I briefly mentioned some of my new entrance so

mentioned some of my new entrance so

mentioned some of my new entrance so moving away from the dirt Natural

moving away from the dirt Natural

moving away from the dirt Natural History Museum and dioramas and that the

History Museum and dioramas and that the

History Museum and dioramas and that the dark dusty pieces of property artifacts

dark dusty pieces of property artifacts

dark dusty pieces of property artifacts I’ve become a little bit interested in

I’ve become a little bit interested in

I’ve become a little bit interested in representations of Africa artifacts in

representations of Africa artifacts in

representations of Africa artifacts in art museums this is an image from the

art museums this is an image from the

art museums this is an image from the philadelphia museum of arts creative

philadelphia museum of arts creative

philadelphia museum of arts creative africa exhibition from last summer which

africa exhibition from last summer which

africa exhibition from last summer which artist is to work with and for a while I

artist is to work with and for a while I

artist is to work with and for a while I think he was that to resurrect to

think he was that to resurrect to

think he was that to resurrect to recover an implausible artifacts from

recover an implausible artifacts from

recover an implausible artifacts from anthropology you have to present them as

anthropology you have to present them as

anthropology you have to present them as art capital a and this was limited

art capital a and this was limited

art capital a and this was limited cognitive shift I see the benefits of it

cognitive shift I see the benefits of it

cognitive shift I see the benefits of it in various ways the appreciation for the

in various ways the appreciation for the

in various ways the appreciation for the singular Rundlett object however with

singular Rundlett object however with

singular Rundlett object however with conditions happen artifacts were of

conditions happen artifacts were of

conditions happen artifacts were of Raven trouble and objects

Raven trouble and objects

Raven trouble and objects looming object they have biographies

looming object they have biographies

looming object they have biographies they have life histories and cultural

they have life histories and cultural

they have life histories and cultural stories and we need to uncover those

stories and we need to uncover those

stories and we need to uncover those stories

stories

stories ideally working with spending community

ideally working with spending community

ideally working with spending community with insider cultural experts in order

with insider cultural experts in order

with insider cultural experts in order to really give these objects voice or to

to really give these objects voice or to

to really give these objects voice or to animate them so I think that we need a

animate them so I think that we need a

animate them so I think that we need a lot of alternative paths for everyone

lot of alternative paths for everyone

lot of alternative paths for everyone complicated paths forward and confronted

complicated paths forward and confronted

complicated paths forward and confronted a that my friend our students in of

a that my friend our students in of

a that my friend our students in of course I I taught last semester curated

course I I taught last semester curated

course I I taught last semester curated their own exhibition of African

their own exhibition of African

their own exhibition of African artifacts or living objects and they

artifacts or living objects and they

artifacts or living objects and they titled life-giving Africa we those see

titled life-giving Africa we those see

titled life-giving Africa we those see any showing and going so things no

any showing and going so things no

any showing and going so things no exhibition exhibition of these students

exhibition exhibition of these students

exhibition exhibition of these students painting new and alternative pastor

painting new and alternative pastor

painting new and alternative pastor representing advocate objects appear

representing advocate objects appear

representing advocate objects appear this in display of sacred and a she

this in display of sacred and a she

this in display of sacred and a she twins which are a very controversial

twins which are a very controversial

twins which are a very controversial museum object but as you approach this

museum object but as you approach this

museum object but as you approach this display

display

display wisdom skills for new to behind the

wisdom skills for new to behind the

wisdom skills for new to behind the black currant and students require

black currant and students require

black currant and students require visitors to read a rainy panel about

visitors to read a rainy panel about

visitors to read a rainy panel about these sacred sculptural figures before

these sacred sculptural figures before

these sacred sculptural figures before deciding whether or not they wanted to

deciding whether or not they wanted to

deciding whether or not they wanted to book behind the current so that gave the

book behind the current so that gave the

book behind the current so that gave the fitter a bit more agency but also it

fitter a bit more agency but also it

fitter a bit more agency but also it gave these cultural figures more dignity

gave these cultural figures more dignity

gave these cultural figures more dignity and respect and then lastly actually

and respect and then lastly actually

and respect and then lastly actually give a shout-out to the amazing called

give a shout-out to the amazing called

give a shout-out to the amazing called conceptual artists that think outside

conceptual artists that think outside

conceptual artists that think outside the box

the box

the box artists like Fred Wilson who

artists like Fred Wilson who

artists like Fred Wilson who recontextualizes the museum itself who

recontextualizes the museum itself who

recontextualizes the museum itself who brings race and representation in the

brings race and representation in the

brings race and representation in the museum and ultimately I think again we

museum and ultimately I think again we

museum and ultimately I think again we need more complicated tasks forward with

need more complicated tasks forward with

need more complicated tasks forward with the dirt box of the traditional

the dirt box of the traditional

the dirt box of the traditional anthropology or Natural History display

anthropology or Natural History display

anthropology or Natural History display the white cube outside the box we have

the white cube outside the box we have

the white cube outside the box we have to continually press ourselves to think

to continually press ourselves to think

to continually press ourselves to think about how to do this better than we’re

about how to do this better than we’re

about how to do this better than we’re complicated it’s not easy and ultimately

complicated it’s not easy and ultimately

complicated it’s not easy and ultimately thinking about the path forward I

thinking about the path forward I

thinking about the path forward I remember a conversation I had with a

remember a conversation I had with a

remember a conversation I had with a Black Canyon visitor – in the National

Black Canyon visitor – in the National

Black Canyon visitor – in the National Museums of Kenya and when I asked him

Museums of Kenya and when I asked him

Museums of Kenya and when I asked him which stand for the Tyrell

which stand for the Tyrell

which stand for the Tyrell his impression of that my grandma

his impression of that my grandma

his impression of that my grandma he said meanings are our people

he said meanings are our people

he said meanings are our people Wow okay exactly

Wow okay exactly

Wow okay exactly meanings are people means not for the

meanings are people means not for the

meanings are people means not for the gun Rama means are in people that really

gun Rama means are in people that really

gun Rama means are in people that really struck me and stayed with me

struck me and stayed with me

struck me and stayed with me so I realized that in order to undo

so I realized that in order to undo

so I realized that in order to undo these historical and wonderful stories

these historical and wonderful stories

these historical and wonderful stories that devalued blackness and black people

that devalued blackness and black people

that devalued blackness and black people we have to undo not only would have been

we have to undo not only would have been

we have to undo not only would have been insufficient but what our mineral minds

insufficient but what our mineral minds

insufficient but what our mineral minds how we imagine how do we value black

how we imagine how do we value black

how we imagine how do we value black lives and helping me consciously and

lives and helping me consciously and

lives and helping me consciously and subconsciously really believe that black

subconsciously really believe that black

subconsciously really believe that black lives do matter

”

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