Black History Shapes Today's Reality as Families Learn to Treat Others with Respect and Understanding

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Black History Month may be celebrated in February but those who are committed to elevating voices recognize the contributions of those who came before--every day of every week of every year.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis believes the only way to prevent discrimination is to tell the stories of real people, what they endured and what their lives meant to Civil Rights and inclusion.

Art has the ability to change lives and elevate unheard voices. Stories from Our Community: The Art of Protest features #BlackLivesMatter artists who rallied after their mural was destroyed on the streets of Indianapolis less than a week after it was created. Art brought 18 strangers together following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police. By blending their shared passions for art, community and human rights, the artists created a street mural on Indiana Avenue in downtown Indianapolis to support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Each letter in the mural was created to reject injustice and share stories of the Black experience. The mural was vandalized just seven days after it was created. The Children's Museum now hopes share their stories through a miniature recreation of the Black Lives Matter mural.

Another exhibit includes Black athletes who have broken boundaries called, Baseball Boundary Breakers. The baseball trailblazers featured in this exhibit have risen above adversity, challenges and obstacles. There is even a baseball bat with the autographs of 150 Negro League Baseball players. Featured players include Major League Baseball's first African American player—Jackie Robinson, "Hammerin' Hank" Aaron and Indianapolis native Oscar Charleston. In a play along portion of the exhibit inspired by Oscar Charleston, children and families will be able to take on the role of an outfielder and jump to try and touch baseballs at various heights to "catch" them before they soar over the outfield wall!

Civil Rights Activist Ruby Bridges is featured in yet another exhibit that celebrates the accomplishments of children called, The Power of Children. See bravery beyond words through the story of a first-grade girl in the newly desegregated schools of New Orleans in 1960. The year Ruby Bridges was born, the Supreme Court of the United States charted a new course for the nation in Brown v. Board of Education, ruling that segregation of black students in public schools was inherently unequal. Six years later, Ruby herself put a personal face on this momentous decision when she was among the first black students to integrate the white school system in New Orleans in 1960.

And this week, the museum announced yet another exhibit that shares the heart-breaking story of a young child who was discriminated against and then brutally murdered. What happened to Emmett Till and his Mother's courage to have an open casket at his funeral proved to be a significant moment in the Civil Rights movement. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is co-creating the exhibit with the Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley Institute, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center and the Till family. Together, we believe it is vital to educate families on what has happened in the past in hopes of fostering racial harmony and reconciliation today. The Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See exhibit will open at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis on September 17, 2022 before traveling to other venues.

It is our hope that education and understanding will make a positive difference in the world.

Media Contact

Kim Harms Robinson, The Children's Museum, 3178095203, [email protected]

SOURCE The Children's Museum