In memory of John Hope Franklin (1915-2009) and in honor of
Black History Month, this exhibit touches on four periods
crucial to understanding the history of African Americans in the
United States, exploring their dimensions-in a necessarily brief
manner-through the words of John Hope Franklin and the many
forms of historical documentation in the collections of the Rare
Book, Manuscript and Special Collections Library. Through these
displays, we can reflect on our past and at the same time, as
Dr. Franklin so strongly urged us, look to the present for the
means to free ourselves from injustice, fear, and hatred. "The
writing of history reflects the interests, predilections, and
even prejudices of a given generation. This means that at the
present time there is an urgent need to re-examine our past in
terms of our present outlook." (John Hope Franklin, from African
American Biography, Volume 2, 1994) Exhibit curated by Paula
Jeannet Mangiafico and Janie Morris, with support from the John
Hope Franklin Research