By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
Highly regarded as an expert in race studies, Dr. David Pilgrim will share the mission of the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery at an exclusive Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum and Barack Obama Presidential Library joint event.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Pilgrim to the Ford Museum as a guest speaker for our first collaborative event with the Barack Obama Presidential Library,” said Brooke Clement, Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and Acting Director of the Barack Obama Presidential Library, in supplied material.
“We are fortunate to have him on-location where he will be able to share his expertise and passion on the history of the African-American experience in America.”
Teaching tolerance with objects of intolerance
Scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m., “Using Objects of Intolerance to Teach Tolerance and Promote Social Justice with Dr. David Pilgrim” is open to the public, free, and will be live-streamed through Zoom. It will also be recorded on the Barack Obama Presidential Library YouTube channel for those who wish to attend remotely.
With a 20,000-piece collection of racist artifacts, the Jim Crow Museum – located on the Ferris State University (FSU) campus – is the nation’s most extensive and accessible collection of artifacts of intolerance.
The museum contextualizes the dreadful impact of Jim Crow laws and customs, and uses objects of intolerance to teach tolerance and promote a more just society. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Dr. Pilgrim during a question and answer session.
After walking through the “Overcoming Hateful Things” Jim Crow Museum traveling exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) in 2023, Clement knew she wanted to bring Dr. Pilgrim to the Ford Museum.
“The display (at GRPM) was incredibly moving. It’s something that, as a community, it is important for us to take on as a mission – and amplify it. We don’t want to skirt around it,” Clement told WKTV.
When Clement reached out to Dr. Pilgrim, he inquired about her connection to the Obama Library and expressed interest in making the event a collaborative effort.
With the combined historical expertise of both Dr. Pilgrim and Clement, the “Using Objects of Intolerance” event is sure to challenge and enlighten attendees.
Learning from the past
Best known as the founder and director of the Jim Crow Museum, Dr. Pilgrim also serves as Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion, and Strategic Initiatives at FSU. In addition, Pilgrim has authored three books: Understanding Jim Crow; Watermelons, Nooses, and Straight Razors; and Haste to Rise (with Franklin Hughes).
Dr. Pilgrim has lectured at dozens of institutions, including Stanford University, the University of Michigan, Smith College, and the University of North Carolina.
With a history teacher for a father, Clement and her sister found themselves shuttled to various historical landmarks and museums throughout her childhood.
“By the time I was in high school, I realized that I really enjoyed learning about our past,” said Clement.
What followed was a Bachelor of Arts in American History and American Culture at the University of Michigan. Clement also holds a Master of Liberal Arts in American Studies at Columbia University in New York.
Having participated in an archival work study at Columbia University’s archives, Clement was offered a position at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, thus beginning her National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) career.
Clement has worked in senior management and archival positions at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and most recently the Barack Obama Presidential Library.
Historical understanding can bring an enlightened future
Clement is dedicated to providing a clearer understanding of the nation’s history to attendees of the upcoming event.
“I’m hoping audience members are going to be challenged, they’ll be enlightened by the discussion, and that they can walk away from it with a clearer understanding and better sense of our history,” said Clement.
Clement went on to say that acknowledging the past and learning from it are important. “I would like the Ford Museum to be seen by the community as a place in which we’re willing to have those hard discussions.”
However, growth and understanding should not stop there.
“I feel like we can always do better,” said Clement. “I think there’s always room for improvement in terms of how much we are willing to dive into hard topics, and how much we’re willing to reach out and cross that divide.”
Crossing the divide: Upcoming events
Clement’s determination to reach across that divide is demonstrated by several upcoming Ford Museum events.
“We have Dr. Barbara Savage coming (March 14), and she’s going to be talking about West Michigander Merze Tate [and her] impressive role in the education movement,” said Clement.
During the month of April, the Ford Museum will host a First Ladies Conference as well as an event featuring The New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker. The month of August will highlight a new Ford Museum exhibit.
“We’re also heavily planning for 50th anniversary programming,” said Clement. “It’s the 50th anniversary of [President Ford’s] swearing in, so we will definitely be highlighting that.”
Clement went on to say that the mission of the Presidential Library system is more than just general history.
“We get opportunities like this to tell not only the history of the President, the First Lady, and the Presidency in general, but also to reach out and do historical analysis of things like what Dr. Pilgrim is bringing to us,” said Clement.
Learn more!
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