Join Dr. David Pilgrim, director of the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia for a free lecture. This lecture introduces the audience to the creation, mission, and work of the Jim Crow Museum—the nation’s largest collection of publicly accessible racist artifacts. The museum uses objects of intolerance to teach tolerance and to help create a more just society. A major goal of the Jim Crow Museum is to get people to talk openly, honestly, intelligently, and civilly about race, race relations, racism, and other isms. The focus is mainly academic—the tools are ugly relics of the past.
Thursday, January 16
7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Holland Museum
Free
Dr. David Pilgrim is a dynamic public speaker and one of this country’s leading experts on issues relating to multiculturalism, diversity, and race relations. He has been interviewed by National Public Radio, Time magazine, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and dozens of newspapers, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times. He is best known as the founder and curator of the Jim Crow Museum: a 12,000-piece collection of racist artifacts located at Ferris State University. The museum uses objects of intolerance to teach tolerance and promote social justice.
Dr. Pilgrim is an applied sociologist with a doctorate from The Ohio State University. He is the author of Understanding Jim Crow (PM Press, 2015), and Watermelons, Nooses, and Straight Razors (PM Press, 2017). His other writings appear on the museum’s website: www.ferris.edu/jimcrow. He has delivered lectures at many institutions.
Articulate, accomplished, passionate, and highly sought after, Dr. Pilgrim challenges audiences to think deeply about diversity and race relations. He is a gifted teacher—Ferris State University Distinguished Teacher for 2003—and a dynamic orator known for objective, insightful analysis—and a biting sense of humor. He is a wonderful storyteller. Dr. Pilgrim has spent his adult life using objects of intolerance to teach about race, race relations, and racism. It works. His goal is to get people talking about diversity and race relations in meaningful ways—and, then, to go and do something positive.
In 2006, Dr. Pilgrim served as a consultant to Will Smith (directorial debut) for the UPN television show, All of Us. Mr. Smith wanted to make sure that the episode—called “The N-Word”—dealt with issues of race and racism in a non-stereotypical fashion.
Sponsored by:
The exhibit, “THEM: Images of Separation,” is courtesy of the the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University