In the 1970s, the church commissioned two Philadelphia artists, Richard Watson and Walter Edmonds, to paint scenes inside the worship space depicting scenes of Black struggle and resistance. One of the largest murals by Edmonds is named after MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
“The murals at that church connect scriptural themes with the experiences of Black people in the United States,” said Damon McCool, AAMP’s director of programming. “We’ll invite our visitors to create their own miniature murals honoring Philadelphia’s radical tradition.”
On MLK Day, Monday, Jan. 19, admission to AAMP will be free. The museum’s curators will offer gallery talks, and family-friendly activities will be held.
The reduced and free admission policies over the weekend are courtesy of Citizens Bank, which donated $35,000 to AAMP. This is the 19th year the bank has supported the museum’s MLK celebrations.
“There’s no more important legacy that we have in American history than Dr. Martin Luther King,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, president of Citizens Mid-Atlantic and Midwest Regions. “We need to make sure we celebrate his great life and legacy but also live his legacy every day. The message of peace is as necessary today as it’s ever been.”
In addition to the Carter costumes, AAMP has a smaller exhibition about overwater routes for fugitives escaping slavery, “Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad,” and its permanent exhibition, “Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia 1776-1876.”
The dresses worn by actresses portraying the victims of the 1963 Birmingham Church bombing are on display at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, part of an exhibit of the work of costume designer Ruth Carter. (Emma Lee/WHYY)