The African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA) has opened a new exhibition revisiting W.E.B. Du Bois' groundbreaking "Exhibit of American Negroes" from the 1900 Paris World's Fair. Developed in partnership with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), the show builds on a Black History Month project by reporter Mirtha Donastorg and photographer Natrice Miller, who revisited Du Bois' original data and photographs. The exhibition features contemporary portraits of Black Atlantans alongside historical images, asking what has changed and what has endured in Black American life over the past century.
This exhibition matters because it recontextualizes a landmark sociological and artistic work—Du Bois' 1900 display used photography and data to challenge racist stereotypes about Black Americans on a global stage. By pairing historical images with new portraits and data, ADAMA and the AJC create a powerful dialogue between past and present, highlighting both progress and persistent inequalities. The show also underscores the role of local journalism and community engagement in shaping art historical narratives, making it a significant contribution to ongoing conversations about race, representation, and visual culture.