The Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) presents "Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985," a landmark exhibition exploring the role of photography in fostering Black visual culture and identity during the civil rights and Black Arts Movement eras. The show features approximately 150 works by over 100 artists, including Dawoud Bey, Gordon Parks, and Carrie Mae Weems, drawn primarily from the National Gallery of Art's collection, and runs from July 25 to November 8, 2026, as the final stop on a national tour.
This exhibition matters because it highlights how photography served as a crucial tool for self-representation, activism, and cultural empowerment during a transformative period in American history. By including works from the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, and Great Britain, it underscores the global impact of the Black Arts Movement and the ongoing relevance of these artists' strategies for addressing inequality and shaping identity.