Join us for a tour of Cooper Hewitt’s current exhibition, Deconstructing Power: W. E. B. Du Bois at the 1900 World’s Fair. This tour will offer in-depth verbal descriptions and tactile Braille reproductions of the hand-drawn data visualizations created by Du Bois and his Atlanta University students for the Fair’s “Exhibit of American Negroes.” These diagrams used shape, line, and color to showcase the success Black Americans had achieved despite facing pervasive racism in the United States and the global community. We will explore Du Bois’ work in the context of the World’s Fair’s focus on technological advancement, European supremacy, and imperial conquest.
Content note: This exhibition explores topics of racism against Black Americans from 1865-1900, as well as global colonial violence and oppression during that period. The word “Negro” is used consistently throughout the exhibition.
Intended Audience: Participants who are blind or have low vision and are interested in Black American life at the turn of the century, data visualization, and/or the work of W. E. B. Du Bois.
Accessibility:
- Location: The program will take place in Cooper Hewitt’s second-floor galleries, accessible via stairs or elevator. Portable stools are available for participants who cannot stand for long periods of time.
- What to Expect: During this tour, participants will move through the galleries and learn from educators about the W. E. B. Du Bois data visualizations that are on display as part of the Deconstructing Power exhibit. The data visualizations are the size of large posters and can be viewed up close; tactile reproductions with Braille translation are also available.
- For general questions, including requests for additional accessibility services such as Pro-Tactile interpreting, please email us at CHAccess@si.edu or let us know when registering. Please make your accommodation request as far in advance as possible—preferably at least one week before the program date.
