Visual arts: Gen. Museum visit FYE Black Interior Archives (3 points) Co' 29

    Walking through the AUC's library museum and exploring the Black Interiors archives felt deeply personal, almost like stepping into a conversation with the past. This visit was not just about viewing an exhibition; it was about witnessing history through the voices, spaces, and stories that shaped Black life and thought.

    One of the most moving parts of the experience was reading firsthand letters written by Malcolm X. Seeing his words preserved on paper made history feel immediate and human. It reminded me that the figures we often learn about in textbooks were real people navigating real moments of urgency, hope, and resistance. That feeling carried through as I explored archival photos and materials from earlier generations of Spelman and Morehouse students. Seeing their faces, their classrooms, and their everyday lives made me reflect on the legacy we inherit as students today and the responsibility that comes with it.

    I was also struck by the blueprints and planning documents that showed how the Atlanta University Center and the city of Atlanta itself were formed. These materials revealed how Black communities intentionally built institutions and spaces for learning, culture, and survival. It made me think differently about campuses and neighborhoods I move through daily, understanding them not just as places, but as carefully imagined and fought-for environments.

    A recorded conversation with curator Martina Dodd tied everything together, as she spoke about the importance of intentionally curated Black spaces in today’s political climate. Her words resonated as I explored the library’s art collections and book stacks, reinforcing how preservation and curation are acts of intellectual sovereignty. Leaving the museum, I felt grounded, inspired, and more connected to the history that continues to shape who I am and who we are becoming.

Taryn Allen Co' 2029