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ArtRage Exhibit Features Artifacts that Distorted Perceptions of African Americans

A new exhibit at the ArtRage gallery in Syracuse features an Auburn man’s unique collection of ordinary household artifacts that forces people to confront racist stereotypes and distortions of African Americans.  William Berry, Jr. started collecting the racist memorabilia more than 40 years ago.  With help from traveling friends, his collection includes artifacts from all over the world.   Berry says the theme is the same...African Americans were seen and portrayed in a negative light.  

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
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WAER News
Bill Berry looks at his collection displayed at the ArtRage Gallery in Syracuse. The exhibit runs through March 19th.

Berry is publisher and CEO of aaduna, Inc. out of Auburn, a not-for-profit organization that showcases new and emerging writers and artists of color.  He spent a long, distinguished career in a variety of senior executive, administrative, and academic positions at major universities and colleges.  

WAER News talked to Berry for our first installment celebrating black history month.

   

Bill Berry’s exhibit runs through March 19th at the ArtRage Gallery on Hawley Avenue.  

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.