COURTESY FLORENTINE FILMS

Three-time world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali is among the iconic Black men included in “Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth.” exhibit at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture and Levine Museum of the New South starting Oct. 8.

A Smithsonian Institution exhibit that focuses on Black men who helped shape American history and culture is coming to Charlotte.

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture and Levine Museum of the New South are collaborating on “Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth.” during a seven-month run starting Oct. 8. The exhibit, which runs through March 12, 2023, profiles men who are venerated as part of the nation’s landscape.

Artists, advisors, academics, curators, and museum professionals determined the men included in the exhibit, which includes boxer and humanitarian Muhammad Ali, authors James Baldwin and Ta-Nehisi Coates, civil rights activist W.E.B. DuBois and musician Kendrick Lamar.

Each subject’s biography is paired with original artwork by art illustrating their contributions.

“In the spirit of our mission and legacy, bringing Men of Change to Charlotte is a great gift and honor,” Gantt Center President and CEO David Taylor said in a statement.  “We are excited to collaborate with Levine Museum of the New South to showcase the stories of these iconic men who have contributed greatly to the good of our society, and to celebrate the local Men of Change in our community.”

The Gantt and Levine Museum of the New South will partner on community programming aligned with the exhibition and feature a temporary exhibition that highlights local men who have inspired and influenced change. The exhibition includes a talk-back section that encourages participants to nominate local men for acknowledgment.  

The exhibition, which is free due to financial support from Wells Fargo, revolves around seven themes. The Gantt will display Storytellers, Fathering, and Imagining. Levine will exhibit Catalysts, Myth-Breakers, and Community. Both will show Loving.

“The Gantt and Levine Museum strive to ignite dialogue and engagement that connects the community through history, art, culture, and celebration.” Levine Museum of the New South President and CEO Kathryn Hill said. “Collaboration is one of the museum’s founding values and we hope this partnership around ‘Men of Change’ inspires the community to visit both museums to hear the voices and share the stories of these extraordinary men.”

For more information, visit menofchange.si.edu, ganttcenter.org, and museumofthenewsouth.org.

Comments