FINDLAY, OH (WLIO) -Â University experts came to the Church of the Living God to talk about art and its role in black history.
Findlay's Black Heritage Library & Multicultural Center invited guest speakers from Purdue University and Ball State University to give presentations on how different art forms have been used to tell stories and advance civil rights since the era of slavery. The event also included spoken word poetry, dancing, and drumming. Experts say the influence of black culture and art on America's history isn't discussed nearly enough.
"Artistic expression, even as early as slavery, we used spirituals as code words to move us through the underground railroad," said Katherine Betts, the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Purdue University in Indianapolis.
"When blacks started expanding in education, in literature, in entertainment, they happened in Harlem. And the people started coming downtown for the entertainment, and that was when blacks and whites started interacting with each other," added Jerome Gray, the executive director of the Black Heritage Library & Multicultural Center.
Speakers said that there's still some division left in the country, and that black art is still playing an important part in solving that.
"Often things are depicted on TV and in other areas, they are often depicted in the wrong way. And so when we're talking learning about black art, written and produced by black individuals, that is a much more accurate account of their lives and their struggles," said Evette Simmons-Reed, an assistant professor in Applied Behavior Analysis at Ball State University.
Saturday, February 24th, the Black Heritage Library will host a lecture by the activist, radio personality, and author Art McKoy at 6 pm.
