Shedding Light on a Dark Matter

An exhibit called “Hateful Things”, displaying racist memorabilia is taking place here on Frostburg State University’s campus in the Stephanie Ann Roper gallery. The exhibit has been open to the public since October 21st and will remain open until November 9th, with viewing hours from 1-4pm Sunday through Wednesday. The exhibit was founded by Dr. David Pilgrim at Ferris State University College. As shared by Frostburg State University’s add page for this event, Dr. David Pilgrim wishes to “…change the way people talk about race.” The event is meant to shed light to the harms of racism on the thoughts and actions of people and hopefully bring about a positive change.

The Stephanie Anne Roper gallery room for this display has low lighting and a quiet, almost reflective mood upon onlookers. A picture of a black woman with a pregnant stomach that says “ I went all de way wif L.B.J” is of the first items in the room. This picture portrays the demeaning way in which black women were seen in the days of Jim Crow -“…worldly, tempting and lewd…” and to show the scorn many racists had to the support Lyndon B. Johnson gained from the black audience . (Dr. David Pilgrim) An ad for hot combs and pressing pomade for African American hair to become more straight and appear “white” is on display as well to signify how black people internalized the views by society in the 1950’s-60’s that “black” features such as kinky hair were ugly. Another ad that depicts the ways in which society demeaned African American’s appearance for not being white is an ad for skin bleaching cream called “Lucky Brown”.

More memorabilia on display shows the ways in which African Americans were viewed and treated as lesser human beings in society. A restaurant sign that said “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.” is on display to show how even as a paying customer, African Americans were not treated as equals because they could not even be considered human enough to dine among whites. Another sign prohibiting African American people from associating with white people is a boating dock sign that states “No niggers, no Jews, no dogs”. A description of the sign, provided by Dr. David Pilgrim states that acts as minute as fishing, playing cards, and dominoes were seen as acts of bonding and such acts signified that the participants were on the same social standing. In the early 1900’s such equality in social standing among African Americans and whites did not exist, therefore it was prohibited.

In response to these images, the looks on the faces of students were of disbelief, anger, and some even cried tears. A Frostburg State student named Elizabeth Radcliffe stated she felt “Glad they brought the exhibit here because it shows how racist pop culture can be and still is and how people need to realize how images affect us.” Another student from a field trip by the name of Brittany Lonergan stated the exhibit “Opened my eyes to how big racial issues are.” Perhaps one of the most touching statements made was by another Frostburg student named Ashlee Banks who stumbled through tears to comment “I almost threw up, these are all the things my grandmother never told me.”

Obviously the event is moving people who visit the display in one shape or form. Proven by the responses given the hopes of Dr. David Pilgrim of bringing about change seem to be a success.