Black History Month Art Exhibition in Washington, DC Highlights Civil War Contributions and Human Rights Education

The United for Human Rights art exhibition, held during Black History Month in Washington, DC, brought together historical reflection and contemporary human rights advocacy through visual art. Co-hosted by the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, Youth for Human Rights International's Washington, DC chapter, and Art Impact International, the event featured a commissioned artwork titled "Bloom" dedicated to the African-American men who served in the Civil War. Dr. Frank Smith, founder of the African-American Civil War Museum and a civil rights activist who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered remarks at the opening, providing historical context about the Union's recruitment of Black soldiers in 1863. He noted that approximately 200,000 Black men, predominantly former slaves, joined the Union Army, marking a pivotal moment that allowed them to fight for their own freedom while aiding the Union cause.

Dr. Smith also shared a personal anecdote about encountering Dr. King at an airport, where King advised him to "Never hang up your marching shoes," guidance that influenced Smith's subsequent career as a DC City Councilmember and museum founder. The exhibition, held at the historic Fraser Mansion as part of the monthly First Friday: Art Walk Dupont Circle, included a period-authentic Black Union soldier in uniform and various artworks focusing on human rights and civil rights themes. Marcus Manning, Deputy Director of the DC Mayor's office on African American Affairs, attended and expressed gratitude to the artists for their contributions. Azhar Haq, Executive Director of Youth for Human Rights International's DC chapter, highlighted the power of art in advocacy, stating, "Art speaks for itself…. Through this event we can get the word out on human rights, particularly to youth so they become advocates for tolerance and peace."

In addition to the artwork, free educational materials on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights were distributed to attendees, provided by Youth for Human Rights International. These resources aim to inform and unite individuals, educators, organizations, and governmental bodies in promoting human rights awareness. Similar materials are available free at www.youthforhumanrights.org, and more information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/YHRDC. The event underscored the intersection of art, history, and education, leveraging the cultural platform of Art Walk Dupont, which offers free art exhibits in galleries, embassies, and cultural centers throughout the Dupont Circle neighborhood. By commemorating Black History Month through this lens, the exhibition reinforced the ongoing relevance of human rights principles and the importance of remembering historical contributions to social justice.