Revealing Histories: Myths About Race

From Saturday 25 August 2007: Explore issues around the racist thinking which underpinned the trans-Atlantic slave trade in a new exhibition marking the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.

Many Victorian institutions, including The Manchester Museum, contributed to the same racist thinking that had justified slavery. As part of the Revealing Histories: Remembering Slavery project, Myths about Race explores the difficult and sensitive issues that this raises.

Objects and images are used which show how racist ideas were supported by museums and other media, and highlight how individuals and organisations in Manchester have worked to dispel these myths. This exhibition invites you to question the displays in the Museum, and to help shape its future.

Provoking thought about the role of the museum in constructing racial stereotypes, the exhibition divides into three themes. These challenge the notions that different ethnic groups formed a hierarchy, with southern people being somehow less 'evolved' than Europeans; the population of ancient Egypt were white, as perpetuated in motion pictures such as 'Cleopatra'; and unpack imagery that portrayed African people and their descendents only as victims.

Ornate African objects are displayed alongside material from active anti-racist campaigns and racist images which at the time were considered to be 'scientific'. With space for discussion, provocation and contemplation, this exhibition aims to dispel myths about different ethnic groups and thereby combat prejudice. The responses from these discussions will help to shape its nature and future content.

Sam Alberti, Lecturer and Research Fellow at The Manchester Museum, said: "We involved a wide group of activists, collectors, academics, curators and archivists, from inside and outside the Museum to create this exhibition. We want to provoke debate and discussion around the issues. You may or may not agree with what we say, but we encourage you to respond."

As a shared history, the abolition and history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade is one that is relevant to Britain's past and present. Revealing Histories seeks to uncover Manchester's involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the social and economic effects of this, as well as its key contribution to slavery's ultimate abolition. Revealing Histories is part of  a wider project taking place across eight museums and galleries in Greater Manchester.

Ends
For further press information or images contact Ros Helliwell in the Press Office:
T: 0161 306 1583 E: ros.helliwell@manchester.ac.uk

Notes to editors
High res copies of images are available from the Press Office at The Manchester Museum, please contact Ros Helliwell on 0161 306 1583.

Opportunities to join in the debate on our online forum and further information about the Revealing Histories project can be found at: www.revealinghistories.org.uk

The Manchester Museum
Open: Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sunday, Monday and Bank Holidays 11am-4pm with free entry
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL
T: (0)161 275 2634 F: (0)161 275 2676 www.manchester.ac.uk/museum