opinion

Salter: Kinsey Collection of African-American art at MSU

STARKVILLE – At the Mississippi State University Mitchell Memorial Library's John Grisham Suite for the next three months, Mississippians have an opportunity to experience one of the most important private African American art and history exhibits in the world in the form of the Kinsey Collection – the life's work of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey of Pacific Palisades, California.

Perhaps more valuable, Mississippians will also have an opportunity to learn more about the Kinsey couple and their son, Khalil, who is the general manager of exhibit operations. The Kinseys are a remarkable family who have turned what was at first a young son's questions about his heritage into a lifelong passion and a subsequent mission to share the collections with others.

Reflecting on Mississippi's tragic history on questions of race and civil rights, Kinsey said after arriving in Starkville: "A lot of African American history has been forgotten and never told, so the idea is to get those stories out. That's what this is about — bringing these stories out so we can give personality, a voice and a name to these accomplishments … People are going to leave saying, 'I didn't know that. I didn't know that.'"

Kinsey, a retired Xerox executive and philanthropist, said that his experience is that when people are given complete and accurate information, change follows. "Mississippi State is a university that realizes that the world is looking forward, not backward. The people here understand that. We're extremely pleased to have an opportunity to share our collection with the people of Mississippi."

CBS Sunday Morning writer Caitlin Johnson in 2010 described the Kinsey Collection as "an eclectic collection of artifacts that traces the history of Africans and their descendants in North America." When not on display around the country, much of the collection is housed in the Kinsey's home.

The private collection contains more than 100 original and authentic historical artifacts, documents and works of art that tell a story of the African-American experience from the 1600s to the present.

The Kinsey Collection has been on national tour since 2007, and has been seen by over 4 million visitors. The collection has exhibited at the California African American Museum, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the DuSable Museum of African American History, the Norton Museum of Art, the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The collection has been cited in three national awards including the President's National Award for Museum and Library Services.

A portion of the exhibit is also on display in the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, through 2018.

Highlights of the "African American Treasures" display coming to MSU include an early copy of the Emancipation Proclamation and a signed copy of Brown v. Board of Education. Also, rare works from early 19th century African American artists will be displayed.

The Kinsey family were on campus to celebrate the opening of the exhibit at MSU. Bernard Kinsey will speak at a 3 p.m. public presentation on Sunday, March 22, in Lee Hall Auditorium to offer insights into the respective pieces on display at the university, as well as why he and his wife are so passionate about gathering items for the collection.

The collection is presented by the Bernard and Shirley Kinsey Foundation for Art and Education. The organization seeks to educate the public about African American history by highlighting African American accomplishments over time, closing societal and cultural gaps between African Americans and other populations, and eroding the stereotypes undercutting equality.

To discover more, schedule group tours or view exhibit hours for "African American Treasures" from The Kinsey Collection at MSU, visit http://library.msstate.edu/kinsey. More information about the Kinseys, the Kinsey Collection and its history is available at www.thekinseycollection.com.

The exhibit is made possible by MSU Libraries, African American Studies at MSU and grants from Visit Mississippi, Starkville Visitors & Convention Council and the Mississippi Humanities Council, through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist and director of public affairs at Mississippi State University. Contact him at (601) 507–8004 or sidsalter@sidsalter.com.