Party With The Past Event Aims To Connect Generations
There will be a number of special gatherings scheduled for the month of July at the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Donnell Suggs / WABE
The Atlanta History Center hosted its annual Party with the Past event at the Center for Civil and Human Rights (CCHR) on Tuesday night, bringing together the old — the Civil Rights history of this country and the world — and the new — the visitors of the future — for an evening of looking back while also looking forward.
The entire center, a virtual treasure trove of civil rights history and visual and audio representation human rights struggles around the globe, was open for guests. The party, held at different locations across metro Atlanta, is meant to bridge the gap between history and younger generations. Having the museum available for all to see and enjoy is one of the ways the program tried to do that.
CCHR staff worked their way through the crowd to take pictures, answer questions and give mini-tours with the hopes of having visitors return better prepared to experience what they got to see on Tuesday night.
“Events like this are important because of the partnerships between the center and other institutions within the city,” Programs Director Kelli Edwards said. “It introduces people to the historical side of the institution. We’re anticipating 300-600 people to be introduced to the Center for Civil and Human Rights.”
Jen Garrett, a local real estate agent and volunteer at the center, agreed.
“To bring the young adults in who are like-minded in regards to human rights but might not take the time to come in and visit is what we are trying to accomplish,” Garrett said. “Hopefully they will get back to their communities and tell others about what they saw here.”
‘Generation To Generation’
A jazz trio, #THX4Listening (pronounced Thanks for listening), played the event. The improvisation of the music was mirrored in the complexity of the crowd.
A family of five, father, mother and three daughters worked their way through the lower level of Jim Crow exhibits with mom peppering her daughters with questions on what it means to able to sit whereever they want and go wherever they want.
“Do you girls understand what Rosa Parks did?” asked their mother.
Drinks in hand a pair of young women placed their bevearges down, sat down and put a pair of headphones over their ears to better hear the racist chants that were being played at a makeshift lunch counter. The seats at the counter shook to simulate the anger and energy of the situation.
One of the evenings visitors, legendary African-American conception artist Gilbert Young, in town for the party but also for work as he is in the early stages of an artist in residence tenure at the Interdenominational Theological Center, made his way through the CCHR greeting both old and new friends.
“Any time you can get people out to enjoy themselves, and come together in an institution that speaks to the Civil Rights Movement it’s a good thing, especially in this day and age,” said Young whose painting “He ain’t heavy” is said to have sold over a million prints. “We got black, white, Indian, gay, straight, everyone is here tonight. This is a release from all that is being said and done.
“It is so important that what we see here gets passed on from generation to generation.”
The Center for Civil and Human Rights is located at 100 Ivan Allen Blvd. and is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. And from 12-5 p.m. on Sundays. General admission tickets are $19.99 with children 6 and younger admitted free.
The Atlanta History Center has held previous Party with the Past events at other locations around the metro area, such as the Sweet Auburn Curb Market and the American Hotel.
CORRECTION: This report has been updated to show the Atlanta History Center’s role as presenter of this event.
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