Alliance of Black School Educators Forum Responds to Mark Twain House & Museum Exhibit, 'Hateful Things'

A sign of America's past -- and present? 'Hateful Things,' an exhibit of racist objects highlighting a terrible national failing is on display at the Mark Twain House.

'A Response to Negative Racial Propaganda' Features Panel of Noted Scholars on Issues Raised by Racist Imagery on Display
In conjunction with the current "Hateful Things" exhibition at The Mark Twain House & Museum -- a tough and disturbing look at racist imagery and its role in American history -- the Greater New England Alliance of Black School Educators is presenting an important forum of scholars responding to the exhibit on Saturday, April 28, from noon to 2 pm.

Titled "A Forum on The Response to Negative Racial Propaganda," the discussion will be held in the museum's Lincoln Financial Services Auditorium. It is presented by the Alliance in collaboration with The Mark Twain House & Museum and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. 

Partticipants include:
--Moderator: Olivia White, Executive Director of The Amistad Center for Art and Culture at The Wadsworth Athenaeum
-- Jeffrey Ogbar, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of History, the University of Connecticut
-- Darlene Powell Garlington, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist and author
-- Shayla Nunnally, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science, the University of Connecticut
-- Wilmer Leon, Ph.D., political scientist and host of the Sirius XM Radio Program, Inside the Issues

A response will be provided by Craig Hotchkiss, Education Manager, The Mark Twain House & Museum, and Sonya Green, Program Coordinator, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center.

The event is free, but please call 860-280-3130 for reservations.

"Hateful Things" is part of "Race, Rage and Redemption," a series of exhibits and events at the museum intended to provoke discussion of the issues of race. It accompanies "A Sound Heart & a Deformed Conscience," an exploration of Mark Twain's views on race.

An additional exhibit in the museum's Great Hall, created by GNEABSE,  presents the positive side of the African American experience. This exhibit, "Hopeful Things," will be supplemented by artwork and essays done by Hartford English-Language Learner (ELL) high school students as positive personal responses to the negativity of the imagery in "Hateful Things." Savings bonds worth a total of $1,750 will be given to the top three winners of a juried contest.

"Hateful Things" and the related exhibits are open to the public during regular museum hours. Admission is free with a Mark Twain House tour, or may be viewed with a special museum-only admission of $5. A roster of related events -- films, lectures, discussions -- can be seen at www.marktwainhouse.org/visitor/events_programs.php.

For more information contact Hotchkiss at 860-280-3146 or craig.hotchkiss@marktwainhouse.org.