Soul Soldiers

October 13 - December 31, 2009

Soul Soldiers: African Americans and the Vietnam Era on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.  Soul Soldiers tells the story of the impact of the Vietnam War on African American life and culture by examining both Vietnam and the Civil Rights Movement. It will be on view in the Odessa Woolfolk Gallery through December 31, 2009.  The exhibition explores a number of key topics including the impact of the war on civil rights and Black Power, both in the U.S. and abroad; the effects of the draft on African American life; the important role women played in the Vietnam War and the impact of veteran's organizations after the war.

"African Americans have fought in every war in America's history, from the British, French and Indian War to the current conflict in the Middle East," said Samuel W. Black, curator of the collection. "Research helps to reveal the soldiers and others who served during those campaigns but very little discussion has centered on the cultural impact of the Vietnam War on African American life."

Nine prominent artists—all Vietnam Veterans—have produced a variety of mixed media artwork included in Soul Soldiers.  Nearly 200 artifacts round out the collection. The materials are on loan from the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago.  This multimedia exhibition also shows how the Vietnam War played a critical role in African American popular culture by helping to shape the soul, jazz and gospel music genres in the 1960s and 1970s. A number of audio stops are featured throughout the exhibition that include such Black power anthems as "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)," by James Brown and "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye.

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