Alexandria, Louisiana — The Alexandria Museum of Art begins its 40th anniversary year with a dynamic exhibition opening on December 2, 2016, that challenges negative stereotypes of African-American women in American popular culture, exemplified by the trio “Mammy," "Jezebel," and "Sapphire."
'The exhibition examines the trope of the “Strong Black Woman”, uncovering the opportunities and dangers that this characterization creates for Black women. From the suffering mama, to the stoic victim, to the sassy broad – the images presented in the exhibition question and overturn entrenched archetypes of Black femininity. Frankly addressing ideas such as frailty, sexualized power, and racially bounded ideals of beauty, the exhibition presents us with compelling and nuanced examinations of multiple Black female identities and experiences. Curated jointly by the Inter Disciplinary Experimental Arts Space at Colorado College and the Alexandria Museum of Art from the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, Beyond Mammy, Jezebel, & Sapphire features images of and by Black women.
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