About This Exhibit
“Colorism: The Invincible Color Line” explores the history of colorism through visual culture, in traditional art media, film, and advertisements by channeling the issue through a historical lens. The exhibit highlights colorism within the African American community and other racial and ethnicity groups. The exhibition also recognizes the increasingly prominent role that cosmetic industries have played in promoting skin bleaching. The creation of this online exhibition is the product of a final class project for the course Survey of African American Art at the Cooperstown Graduate Program. This exhibit is meant to complement an onsite exhibition about colorism at a history or art museum. With civic issues such as health care, foreign policy, and racial tension dominating today's discussion, museums can act as a bridge, allowing visitors to engage in meaningful discussion while gaining a deeper understanding of these complex issues. ( There are far more examples of colorism over the past century, but this exhibit can not feature all in a limited space; instead, the intention is to be representative).
The Program
Founded in 1964, the Cooperstown Graduate Program is the premier program for the training of museum professionals in the United States. CGP’s two-year course of study leads to a Master of Arts degree in History Museum Studies or a Master of Science degree in Science Museum Studies. The program trains creative, entrepreneurial museum leaders committed to generating programs and services for the public good. After 50 successful years, CGP has had a national impact on the arts, historic preservation, and cultural programming.
Creator ~ Kimberly McCleary
Kimberly McCleary holds a Bachelors of Arts in History from Texas Christian University (TCU). Where her liberal arts education taught her how to conduct thorough and accurate research, to analyze data carefully, to draw intelligent evidence-based conclusions, and to present her findings in a way that makes them accessible to a larger audience. Kimberly’s passion for education led her to intern with Breakthrough Collaborative during her time at TCU, helping to increase academic opportunities for highly motivated, underserved students and directing them to the trajectory of a successful college path.
Upon graduating in May 2014, Kimberly solidified her commitment to education by pursuing her interest in museums as an agent for community change, and her passion in instructing students in a nontraditional sense by pursuing her Masters in History Museum Studies with the Cooperstown Graduate Program (CGP). Through generalist coursework, CGP has exposed Kimberly to best practices in collections care, educational programming, administration, development, exhibition, material culture, and community engagement.
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**Disclaimer: This is not a real exhibition, but a final assignment for a graduate program course.**
Questions? Contact me via email: kim.n.mccleary@gmail.com