Exhibition of racist memorabilia premieres at ArtRage Gallery
A tiny figurine of an African-American boy hangs on the wall of the ArtRage Gallery. Mounted like a piece of art, the model has white, bulging eyes, grossly exaggerated ears and watermelon being shoved into an oversized red mouth.
Just to the left of the child are frayed postcards, framed and hanging in neat rows around the room. One postcard depicts a black child going to the bathroom in an outhouse. The captain printed in faded ink reads, “When I ain’t eatin’ or sleepin’ or fishin’ I luvs to reelax in dis posishun.”
These objects are just a few of many in the ArtRage Gallery exhibit “BLACKOUT: Through the Veiled Eyes of Others.” The featured items, including wall hangings, postcards, dolls and household objects, come from the collection of Afro-American studies expert and retired higher education administrator Bill Berry Jr.
In addition to the exhibit, ArtRage will be putting on a showing of Spike Lee’s movie “Bamboozled,” and the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company will be putting on excerpts from its latest production, “The Colored Museum.”
The exhibition, which opened Feb. 6, aims to encourage a frank conversation about race and how decades-old racist memorabilia, such as original versions of popular syrup brand “Aunt Jemima,” still have a powerful impact on American culture today.
“My position is that if certain things aren’t out there in the public venue, people aren’t willing to talk about it,” Berry said. “In this country, we don’t want to talk about race, we want to talk about how everything’s OK. And it becomes stupid.”
Berry’s experience with racial issues extends beyond the objects in his collection. He grew up in a time where being verbally and physically attacked because of his race and drinking from “Blacks Only” water fountains were social norms.
“I can talk about being an adult and a consultant for the federal government in Watertown, New York,” Berry said. “Walking down the street back to my hotel and a group of white boys in a truck going past me saying, ‘Hey n*****, get outta here.’”
In the beginning, Berry didn’t view his collection as a social statement, but rather from an educational historical standpoint. As a higher education administrator, he used it as an educational resource, but Berry had never even considered displaying them until he was contacted by ArtRage.
It started with two black Raggedy Ann-type dolls and some racist postcards bought from a man he read about in an article for Village Voice. Intrigued by the ways his race had been portrayed in everyday life, Berry sought out more memorabilia in antique stores and used book shops. He said:
I felt that these objects were important to preserve because it was a cautionary tale of what happens when you allow anybody else to define who you are, and what you think and how you should feel.Bill Berry Jr.
Berry’s personal experiences also act as a part of the exhibit. Printed on white panels throughout the room are “Racist Remembrances,” or memories of racist encounters written in Berry’s own words.
Kimberley McCoy, the community engagement organizer for ArtRage, said ArtRage has been looking for a collection like Berry’s for years after having a similar exhibition about Native American stereotypes. When McCoy first saw the collection, she was immediately struck by the content.
“(I was ashamed) that our culture, our society would do this and think it’s OK, and think it’s funny, and think that it is a worthwhile way to depict people and to make fun of people,” McCoy said.
Berry said he hopes when people see the gallery, they think critically about race and where it stands today. While the images seen in this exhibit may not be prevalent anymore, there are other images that have taken their place, he said.
“The image is no longer big red lips, bulging eyeballs like an alligator’s,” Berry said. “But maybe it’s oversized jeans hanging below your butt, maybe it’s a certain image that you only see on TV.”
Although Berry said he is proud of the exhibit, he doesn’t have any illusions that his collection is going to change the world, or even the entire city of Syracuse. He is a firm believer in grassroots movements and said that sometimes the greatest changes come in small doses.
“If it changes one person and causes them to think, that’s cool with me,” Berry said. “At least I can say I tried, because there are people out there who aren’t even bothering with trying.”
Published on February 7, 2016 at 9:10 pm
Contact: emmichae@syr.edu
