Freedom Sisters Exhibit at The Shabazz Center

Freedom’s Sisters is a dynamic, multimedia exhibition that celebrates 20 African American women, including historic 19th-century figures and contemporary leaders, who helped shape the spirit and substance of the civil rights movement in America. Designed to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds, Freedom’s Sisters, a collaborative effort between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Cincinnati Museum Center, is made possible by a grant from Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. New York is the third and final stop of the extended tour.

Freedom’s Sisters will bring a multitude of community outreach initiatives to the New York area including an essay-writing contest in which Ford will award $10,000 in scholarships to local students.“The Shabazz Center is extremely honored to host this powerful exhibition”, said Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Zead Ramadan. “The life stories of these extraordinary women embody and exemplify the struggle for civil and human rights in late 19th and 20th century. These stories will come to life anew for people of all ages when visiting The Center early in 2012.

The exhibition opens to the public February 4, 2012.“SITES is pleased to bring Freedom’s Sisters to New York, as well as other cities across the country” said SITES Director Anna Cohn. “The work, vision and lives of these women are truly a cultural and historical touchstone for Americans of all ages and we are excited to share with thousands of others – many of them children – their inspiring and important stories.”

Among those included in the exhibit are Ella J. Baker, Constance Baker Motley, Shirley Chisholm, Mary Church Terrell, Septima Poinsette Clark, Kathleen Cleaver, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Fannie Lou Hamer, Dorothy Height, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Barbara Jordan, Mary McLeod Bethune, Rosa Parks, Sonia Sanchez, Coretta Scott King, Betty Shabazz, Harriet Tubman, C. Delores Tucker, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and Ida B. Wells. For more information on the Freedom’s Sisters exhibition, visit The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center, located at 3940 Broadway, New York City, NY or visit www.theshabazzcenter.net.

Watch a Video about this exhibition.