Nikole Hannah-Jones to Host Salon at the Center for Brooklyn History
PHOTOS: (Credit: Gregg Richards)
Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) announced the opening of The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience, an exhibition based on the new art book curated by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and published by The New York Times and Penguin Random House. Running from October 22 to November 27 at BPL’s Central Library, the exhibition offers a visual exploration of The 1619 Project and its groundbreaking retelling of American history.
“Words can transform our society,” said author Nikole Hannah-Jones. “I believe that is also true when it comes to art. There is a power in that particular type of storytelling and that imagery. Not just reflecting society but creating our own narratives and imagining a different future in a way that I think only art can do.”
"At Brooklyn Public Library, we believe deeply that art, literature and history must be available to all, and I am grateful that Nikole Hannah-Jones agrees,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “Housing this exhibition here at the Library provides thousands of New Yorkers free access to art that inspires and stories that prompt reflection. I hope that everyone who walks through our doors this coming month takes the time to explore the exhibition, reconsider our nation’s history and engage openly with other visitors."
The exhibition features original art created for the new illustrated edition of The 1619 Project, which includes seven chapters from the original book that lend themselves to engaging visuals, deepening the experience of the content. The book and exhibition both explore the idea of a new national origin story that begins in August 1619, when enslaved Africans first arrived on the shores of what is now Virginia. Through powerful images and a compelling narrative, the project conveys that only by reckoning with this difficult history can we move toward a more just and equitable future.
Visitors to the exhibition will see artwork by ten prominent Black artists, including BMike, Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, Jamea Richmond-Edwards, Jon Key, Bryant Lamont, Johnny Nelson, Charly Palmer, Fahamu Pecou, Vitus Shell, and Carrie Mae Weems. The second floor of Central Library offers a closer look at the book and history of The 1619 Project, with pages that reflect on Black patriotism, reparations, and social justice. Together, the book and exhibition provide a comprehensive, enriched understanding of American history and its ongoing impact on society.
To celebrate the launch of the exhibition, BPL hosted a conversation between Nikole Hannah-Jones and Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem. The event, attended by more than 500 people, set the tone for this exploration of history, art, and the contributions of Black Americans.
As a complement to the exhibition, BPL and Nikole Hannah-Jones will host a salon at the Center for Brooklyn History on Saturday, November 2. Curated by Hannah-Jones, this free event will feature conversations, poetry, music, and much more. Notable guests include New York Times culture critic Wesley Morris, jewelry designer Johnny Nelson, poet Jasmine Mans, and historians Prithi Kanakamedala, Lori Tharps, and Dominique Jean-Louis. Guests will engage with diverse aspects of Black culture and history, from Black hair stories and WPA Slave Narratives to Wesley Morris’ narrated history of American music. The evening will also include a conversation between Nikole Hannah-Jones and Johnny Nelson, highlighting the Black historical figures who inspire Nelson’s jewelry designs.
For more information on the exhibition and the upcoming salon, please visit Bklynlibrary.org.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. Providing innovative library service for over 125 years, we support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We are a global leader in the fight for the freedom to read through our Books Unbanned initiative, offering teens across the US access to the library’s online catalog. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.