In this report, KYW's community affairs reporter Karin Phillips speaks to Dr. John Fleming, the executive producer of "America I Am," and some of those who contributed artifacts to the exhibition.
by KYW's Karin Phillips
The exhibition's 12 galleries contain more than 400 artifacts. One of them is Prince's purple guitar.
Dr. John Fleming, president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and executive producer of "America I Am," explains its inclusion:
"Prince has had a penetrating influence on American popular culture as much as anyone, and that guitar was just the means for us to tell that story."
A rare audio tape of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reading his infamous "Letter from Birmingham Jail":
(recording of Dr. King:) "On sweltering summer days and crisp autumn mornings I have looked at the South's beautiful churches..."
The door and the key from that jail cell (above right) were lent to "America I Am" by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Lawrence Pijeaux (right) is president and CEO:
"We had mixed emotions. But we decided to make the loan because of the significance of this exhibition."
Herman Bigham, of Philadelphia-based Herman Bigham and Associates, African Cultural Arts Preservers and Presenters, is also a donor:
"All of the African traditional sculptural art, my organization contributed proudly."
Click (at top right) and listen to the extended coverage podcasts of the "America I Am" exhibit at the National Constitution Center, part of KYW Newsradio's celebration of Black History Month.
(Photo #1 by KYW's Karin Phillips)
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