Immerse yourself in Dark Testament: A Century of Black Writers on Justice and honor the significant contributions of Black writers to American literature and history. Explore and better understand racial injustice in America by examining the work of Black American writers from the end of the Civil War through the Civil Rights Movement. Featuring original artwork, augmented reality and other interactive elements that enliven and enrich the experience, Dark Testament brings the work of writers past and present to life in new and exciting ways.
Currently on view in the Meijer Gallery and Roberta Rubin Writers Room.
The multidisciplinary Dark Testament initiative includes:
From Dark Testament lead curator Keidrick Roy:
“Born in 1910, Murray had been a writer, lawyer, activist, priest, and professor trained in legal studies at Howard, Berkeley, and Yale. She was also an advocate for civil and women’s rights. Future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall called Murray’s 1952 book, States’ Laws on Race and Color, the “bible” of the landmark Brown v. the Board of Education decision to integrate schools. Murray also received an honorary citation as coauthor of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legal brief for the 1971 Reed v. Reed Supreme Court decision that prohibited discrimination based on sex.
We hope museumgoers will be inspired by Murray’s extraordinary life and work, which has animated our creative approach to Dark Testament.”
Painted specifically for the Dark Testament initiative, visitors will be able to come face to face with writers like never before through large-scale portraits on display in the Meijer Gallery. These beautiful works of art can also be seen in the online portrait gallery.
Art created by:
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact our Director of Development Linda Dunlavy by phone at 312-374-8762 or via email at [email protected]