Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture: New York, NY
The exhibit “I Found God in Myself: The 40th Anniversary of Ntozake Shange’s for Colored Girls” that is temporarily showcased at the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture in New York, NY is what enticed me to stop by.
The art gallery was small but all twenty exhibits were powerful. Each piece represented a poem that reflected the issues that affects the lives of African American women.
The focal point of the poems and art pieces were politics, social or various issues that women may experience.
What inspired Shange to title the exhibit, “I Found God in Myself?”
The name explores the complexities of what it is like to be African American and the meaning of being a woman. Hopefully, after doing some soul searching, you will be led to a greater understanding of the importance of the acceptance of one’s self.
I love the meaning behind the title because there are a lot of people who are still learning how to love and appreciate themselves for who they are. I truly believe that once an individual can love themselves, all of themselves, then he or she will be able to effortlessly step into their purpose in life.
I walked around until I saw all of the art pieces. They were equally, beautiful, creative, compelling, unique and thought provoking. There weren’t many paintings but the pieces were created in such a way that portrayed an optical illusion. The artwork drew my eyes and kept them fastened until I was thoroughly satisfied with the message that it depicted.
After checking out the art gallery, I toured the rest of the building. There are several divisions within the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture.
There are the Art and Artifacts Division, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division, Photographs and Prints Division, Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division and the Manuscripts, Archives and the Rare Books Division. There is also a gift shop and a courtyard that is utilized when the weather is warm.
Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture solely focuses on African Diaspora and the African American people. This institution was named after Arturo Alfonso Schomburg who spent his life collecting photos and documents of African experiences. The doors has been open since 1905.
Overall, the exhibit “I Found God in Myself: The 40th Anniversary of Ntozake Shange’s for Colored Girls was well worth my trip! The art gallery was free and insightful.
Other galleries that I have visited throughout my journey of this blog are The Museo de San Juan, The Studio Museum of Harlem and The Museo de Arte de Ponte and Magic Ice.
Photo Credits: Escobar Entertainment
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Been following your pictures. Got to say, breath taking shorts.. Love them to bits.
Please halla at me should you ever find yourself in South Africa in one of your travels.
Keep shining dear 😉
Hey Africah this post was deep and meaningful.. It can make you see life from many aspects because blacks in particular have came a long way .. From slavery, Etc. However, regardless of your height, shape, color, etc .. We are all God People and we should Love Ourselves no matter what… Very meaningful read I enjoyed it .
This was definitely an interesting read .. I enjoyed it especially as a young black male .. & the pictures helped to bring out the post even more .. I’m also a Strong believer in God so the name of the exibit “I found God In Myself” captured my attention while reading this post. Keep Up the Good work & thanks for giving us a piece of history
Continue to Grow & inspire others!
I truly enjoyed this post. I’ve visited the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture many years ago when I was a child but didn’t understand the importance of the exhibitions I’ve seen there until I got older and there’s a lot of meaning behind it.. The title of the exibit “I Found God in Myself” is powerful. Also the pictures you’ve posted helps bring it our more by giving more meaning to it so we fully grasp the understanding of it.. One of my fave posts this far.. & one of the main messages you’ve brought to this post is to love yourself for who you are .. We are all children created by the man above
Thanks for this post Africah. Stay Blessed & Prayed Up.. You have a lot of potential to be even greater than you already are ❤️ So keep shining, informing, & inspiring.. You’re a beauty!
Awesome this post was great and gives us an insight of history with pictures and this lovely descriptive post of yours.
Never been to the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture but this post has made me want to visit and check it out In person
Great Post!
Very informative and I agree you have to first love yourself before you can love anyone else
This post was great. Gives is an insight of what happened many years ago and it’s always good to know something about the history behind a lot of things .. It’s an eyeopener for many. Truly enjoyed this post.
If you ever come to the Repulica Dominicana I’d love to meet you.
I’ve never been to New York so I didn’t even know this center existed. But I enjoyed this post to the fullest it helped me to grasp an understanding of what happened years ago. The pics are cool and the post is very descriptive . Thanks for taking us back in history
If you ever come to France I would love that .. Maybe you can inform us about the history or experience you gain when you come. I also love in France
je t’aime Africah ❤️
Hello Africah just thought you should know I enjoyed this post it im African so it brought a lot of insight and emotion to me .. But also I feel great because you are right you should always love ourselves because we are all beautiful children of God .
You are beautiful and a great inspiration to me and kids
My family loves your blog .. It was great to read this post we gained knowledge and understanding and the pics helps to bring it all out … Keep it up .. And keep loving yourself
Fun to read because I’m interested in reading anything that takes is back into history especially since many of us weren’t alive when these events occurred.. Awesome 🙂
Great Post, truly enjoyed getting to know some history .. Keep it Up