Reviving the Enduring Contributions of Black Workers at Hanford: NPCA Remote Parks Talk

Last month (May 2020), I was invited to give a talk with the National Parks Conservation Association as part of the NW Region’s Remote Parks Talks series. Because many of our National Parks were closed this spring due to COVID-19 restrictions, NPCA offered several wonderful virtual conversations about the breadth and depth of our parks and the legacies they steward.

I was able to share my experience working with NAAM on “The Atomic Frontier: Black Life at Hanford” exhibition five years ago - uncovering a humbling and incredible story. Becky Burghardt, Hanford’s site supervisor also joined to offer some park context and share some updates on the park’s development progress since Hanford, Oak Ridge and Los Alamos were designated as National Park Service units in 2015.

The conversation and Q&A was recorded and transcribed - please enjoy!

https://npca.zoom.us/rec/play/usArdOutqm83SdKT5QSDAvB5W43pKa-s1yUW8_oNn0y9AiUKN1SkMORHMLZoZFIlz6FEOeKFa5YYgIqM?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=BQl9w_3QRZa-XGW3F4JX-w.1592936235990.0fc986acb08582644bfd532960423885&_x_zm_rhtaid=81

Published Essay in the Inaugural Fwd: Museums Journal

I'm always interested in the ways in which people assert themselves in spaces where their voices may otherwise go unheard or unnoticed. I was thrilled to learn of the University of Illinois-Chicago's Graduate Museum and Exhibition Studies program's new initiative, Fwd: Museums. Whew - that was a mouthful! This new journal "strives to create a space for challenging, critiquing, and imagining alternative modes of thinking and production within and outside of museums" (quoted from the Fwd: Museums website). 

In response to a call for submissions for the inaugural issue, I felt compelled to submit an essay responding to the theme of "Inaugurations" or "firsts and beginnings." 2015-2016 represented my inaugural year as a full-time consultant and included my first exhibition as an independent consultant/curator (shoutout to the Northwest African American Museum, to whom I will be forever grateful!). The essay, entitled "A Very Brave and Courageous Thing: Museums and the Power to Reshape Historic Narratives of People of Color" was accepted! The essay chronicles my experience working on "The Atomic Frontier: Black Life at Hanford," an exhibition documented the journey and experiences of black workers at the Hanford Manhattan Project site in eastern Washington state. What the photos and press about the exhibition don't tell is that this exhibition became a platform for two local women to reclaim the stories of their mothers. These two incredibly brave women journeyed from the midwest and south to discover themselves and their capabilities, at a time when opportunities began opening for women but traveling and movement into unknown places for black people was dangerous. The essay was about lessons learned in documenting untold stories, bringing in your community and personal growth. 

A copy of this issue of the journal, as well as subsequent issues, can be purchased here or via Amazon.com. My co-contributors are some of the brightest, most outspoken voices in the field, so I encourage everyone to buy a copy for yourself and your institutions!

Presenting at the 2016 Association of African American Museums (AAAM) Conference

In August of 2016, I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with 4 other incredible women to discuss our passions in being consultants and how we have helped the institutions develop or work with new audiences. We discussed everything from research to education programs to community engagement to public programs, and then broke into small groups to tackle some of our session participants' burning questions and challenges. What a phenomenal experience! I couldn't have asked for a more talented and lively group of panelists and I'm thrilled our attendees were so engaged! 

I also had a wonderful time meeting new people in the museum field and have been connected to some exciting new opportunities (stay tuned!). I love conferences not just for the opportunity to connect with other folks in my field, but for the wealth of talent and experience that I can learn from and use to inform my own work. There are so many amazing things happening with museums and conferences are my favorite way of engaging and learning. 

I'm so looking forward to the next AAAM - there's lots of room to make it better and I'm excited for future programs!

More Great Press Coverage on Black Life at Hanford

Crosscut is one of the best media outlets in the Seattle area, and I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Knute Berger about the Hanford exhibit and my experience working on the project. I am particularly heartened by Knute's call to action for the National Park Service as they work toward building the new national park out at Hanford, and his candor when it comes to calling out NPS' obligation to tell the full story - from the removal of Native Americans in particular to make way for the Hanford facilities to the profound impact of the war and subsequent bombs on Japanese Americans. So honored to be included is this piece! For Berger's full article, go here. 

Tri-City Herald Features Black Life at Hanford

As I had hoped, the Black Life at Hanford exhibit finally caught the eye of press in the Tri-Cities! Thankfully Annette Cary from the Herald was able to make it out to Seattle and see the exhibit. She managed to get a great photo of visitors in the exhibit too! Hopefully this article will continue to spark more interest from other museums and institutions in the Tri-Cities, and encourage more open conversations about this moment in its history and how African Americans experienced life here. Read Annette's write-up here.