Blue Telescope, an award-winning, interactive exhibit agency, has helped to celebrate Black feminism in Washington, D.C. throughout the 20th century, and the ongoing work of Black feminists today, in a new exhibition at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, entitled We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC.
This exhibition explores the stories of Black feminist activists and organisers throughout the decades, many of whose stories and voices have frequently been excluded from discussions of American history. It is presented by the National Women’s History Museum and was curated by renowned scholars Sherie M. Randolph and Kendra T. Field.
To create this engaging experience, Blue Telescope, the interactive media producer for the exhibition, collaborated closely with Tessellate Studio, the exhibit designer.
Amplifying voices
“At Blue Telescope, we work to support and amplify the voices of all marginalized groups,” says Kelli Patterson, associate creative producer and project lead for We Who Believe in Freedom. “Black feminists will always have a seat at our table as we strive to make our communities more inclusive places.”
In order to provide crucial first-person insights linking the work of Black feminists of the past to the ongoing work of Black feminist activists, artists, and cultural critics of today, Blue Telescope spoke with eminent feminist professors. Oprah Winfrey is also contributing her voice by introducing the exhibition and discussing what Black feminism means to her.
From the beginning of the 19th century through the civil rights struggle and the Black Power movement to the present, the show features compelling photos and interviews from the past, present, and future of Black feminism. Some of those featured are well-known African-American women, including writers, intellectuals, and activists, while other lesser-known Black feminists have also had their stories shared.
Patterson adds: “We’re proud to create engaging content that inspires and informs those who seek to understand the history of the Black feminist movement so they can carry it forward.”
The exhibition opens on 31 March, in conjunction with Women’s History Month, and will run until the end of 2024.
A number of Blue Telescope’s recent projects, including two with the Sloan Museum of Discovery, have been recognised with MUSE & Summit Awards.