FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Arthur Smith
Louisiana State Museum
504.568.6945
asmith@crt.la.gov

Jacques Berry
Office of the Lieutenant Governor 
225.342.8607
jberry@crt.la.gov

Major Exhibition on Race at Old U.S. Mint

The Louisiana Civil Rights Museum is presenting Race: Are We So Different?, a traveling exhibit on the history, science and everyday experience of race. The exhibit is opening June 4 at the Old U.S. Mint in New Orleans.

Race provides a powerful educational experience for visitors of all ages and backgrounds while encouraging constructive community dialogue about race,” Brenda Williams, interim advisory board chairwoman of the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum, said. “We are pleased to bring this exhibition to Louisiana as part of our mission to heal, educate, celebrate and engage for social justice.”

Using historic and contemporary photography, multimedia and interactive displays, Race explores issues of race and racism from three broad perspectives:

  • Scientific—Visitors will find surprising answers to the question: “Are we so different?” In fact, human beings are more alike genetically than any other species.
  • Historical—Exhibit traces how events, economics, politics and popular culture affect changing perceptions of race.
  • Everyday experience—Interactive displays promote thinking about how we see ourselves and how we see others through the experience of race.

“This show has drawn large audiences at every museum on the national tour. It challenges accepted views about race with research from anthropology and other sciences, and it engages visitors with vibrant exhibit design,” Turry Flucker, Louisiana Civil Rights Museum project director, said.

Race: Are We So Different? is a project of the American Anthropological Association funded by the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation. The exhibition has been on national tour since 2007.

The Louisiana Civil Rights Museum was created in 1999 as part of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Race is co-sponsored by the Louisiana State Museum, Louisiana Commission on Human Rights, Louisiana Museum Foundation, the Friends of the Cabildo, YWCA of New Orleans, the Urban League, and Fox 8 WVUE-TV.

The museum is offering free group tours of the exhibition for schools and summer camps. For group tour reservations, call 504.568.7056. Single admissions are $6 for adults; $5 for seniors and active military; children 12 years old and younger, free.

Race: Are We So Different will be on view Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., through Sept. 25. The Old U.S. Mint, located at 400 Esplanade Ave., is wheelchair accessible.

--www.crt.la.gov--