In this report, KYW's community affairs reporter Karin Phillips talks to Tavis Smiley -- broadcaster, author, advocate, philanthropist, and also the presenter and creative force behind "America I Am."
by KYW's Karin Phillips
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As soon as you approach the entrance of the "America I Am" exhibition, you know that this is a different African-American exhibit.
Tavis Smiley (right) says that's deliberate:
"This ain't an exhibit about slavery. It's a celebration! It's a celebration of the contributions, the imprint that black folk have made."
Smiley says Philadelphia and the National Constitution Center were the natural sites for the exhibit's premiere:
"If ever there is a story about 'We the People,' it is the story of these African-Americans and the contributions they have made for 400 years."
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(Smiley:) "There's never been an exhibit that has all these items in one place, because we've taken them from everywhere!"
And, Smiley says, some individuals and/or institutions might want their items back before the nationwide tour is over, so Philadelphia is the place to see "America I Am."
(Smiley:) "I can almost guarantee you that the items that people will get to see in Philadelphia... whatever that last stop is four years from now, they may not be looking at the same exact items."
(Top photo by KYW's Karin Phillips)
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