RACE: Are We So Different? Will Help Visitors Explore the Reality – and Unreality – of Race

The Durham Museum is excited to announce the opening of RACE: Are We So Different?, developed by the American Anthropological Association in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota.  The exhibit is on display September 28, 2019 – January 5, 2020.  It is the first national exhibition to tell the stories of race from the biological, cultural and historical points of view. Combining these perspectives offers an unprecedented look at race and racism in the United States. Lead sponsorship of this exhibition is provided by The Sherwood Foundation. Additional sponsorship support provided by the Conagra Brands Foundation and HDR, Inc. Media support provided by KETV.

About the exhibition
It’s a simple truth. People are different. Throughout history, these differences have been a source of community strength and personal identity. They have also been the basis for discrimination and oppression. The idea of “race” has been used historically to describe these differences and justify mistreatment of people and even genocide. Today, contemporary scientific understanding of human variation is beginning to challenge “racial” differences, and even question the very concept of race.

Science Museum of Minnesota exhibit developers, designers, and fabricators have worked hard to make RACE an approachable exhibit that promotes discovery, discussion and reflection.

Three perspectives on a wide-reaching topic
The RACE exhibit addresses the topics of race and racism from three different perspectives. The three sections are interwoven and tell a compelling story of science with deep and lasting social impact.

• Science: In this section of the exhibit, visitors will discover that human beings are more alike than any other living species, and no one gene or set of genes can support the idea of race.
• History: Ideas about race have been around for hundreds of years, and they have changed over time. This section of RACE demonstrates that, throughout American history, economic interests, popular culture, science, politics, and the struggle for power have played a role in shaping our understanding of race.
• Everyday experience: Though race may not be a real biological concept, it certainly is real both socially and culturally. In this section of the exhibit, visitors will explore the personal experiences of race in our schools, neighborhoods, health care systems, sports and entertainment industries, and more.

As a companion to the RACE exhibit, a family guide will be available to all visitors and is designed to help answer questions that may arise after visiting the RACE exhibit. The guide may be used as a resource for parents and caregivers to discuss race and racism with young children.

The Durham Museum assembled a group of advisors that met monthly during the exhibit’s development to consult with museum staff and help shape the programming and events surrounding the exhibit. Advisors include:

Thomas Warren – Durham Museum Board Member, President and CEO of the Urban League of Nebraska
Tena Hahn-Rodriguez – Program Partner of Volunteer Initiatives, Inclusive Communities
Dr. Cheryl Logan – Superintendent, Omaha Public Schools
Albert Varas – Executive Director, Latino Center of the Midlands
Amanda Ryan – Program Director, Tri-Faith Initiative
Dr. Franklin Thompson – Director of Human Rights & Relations, City of Omaha

Exhibition Related Programs and Events

Free Admission Sponsored by Conagra Brands Foundation
Sunday, September 29, 1-5PM
Admission will be free on Sunday, September 29, for the community to come visit the RACE exhibit. This free day is generously sponsored by Conagra Brands Foundation.

Omaha Table Talk with Inclusive Communities
Tuesday, October 15, 5-7:30PM
In conjunction with RACE: Are We So Different?, The Durham Museum will partner with Inclusive Communities to host a realistic conversation centered around the construct of race and its implications for our society, as a part of the Omaha Table Talk series. The event, titled “Race, Really: The Myths and Realities of Racial Differences”, will be facilitated by Inclusive Communities staff and volunteers and will focus on the “reality” of race, myths, language and much more.

Guests will arrive and check-in at 5PM to spend time in the exhibition, before joining the group for dinner and discussion from 6-7:30PM. Registered guests will attend the event and gain admission to the museum at no cost. Please visit www.DurhamMuseum.org to register, or email us at education@DurhamMuseum.org.

Group Tours
Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to join us for a guided tour or self-guided experience in the exhibition. Classroom space can be provided following your experience for groups to meet and discuss their thoughts on the exhibition content (please request this at the time of booking). For this special exhibition, groups who book in advance will receive a discounted admission of $7/person (guided) or $5/person (self-guided). Call 402-444-5027 or e-mail education@durhammuseum.org to get started.

“Lest We Forget”: The Story of Will Brown and Omaha’s Red Summer
Digital Interactive – Opening September 28
In observance of the 100th anniversary of the Red Summer and the lynching of Will Brown, The Durham Museum has augmented the Conflict Brings Change area of our permanent exhibitions with a digital interactive that delves into both the historical events and the modern legacy of this tragic event. The interactive will explore 1) The History of Lynching in Nebraska, 2) What Was the Red Summer, 3) The Lynching of Will Brown, 4) Witnesses to History (including oral histories from a number of individuals who witnessed September 28, 1919 first hand, and also modern perspectives looking back on that day) and 5) Reflections and Legacy (modern interviews on what has changed and what hasn’t changed in Omaha since 1919 and where the community go from here.) Beyond the interactive, the entirety of the interviews recorded will be preserved at the museum for posterity and made available for researchers, students and the general public.

This enhanced visitor experience generously sponsored by The Sherwood Foundation.