The Gantt Center presents America I AM: The African American Imprint, which celebrates nearly 500 years of African American contributions to the United States. This touring exhibition runs through March 3, 2013. The Gantt Center is the only African-American cultural institution to host this exhibition and serves as the last venue to house it in the Southeast as the exhibit makes its final tour.

A Special Video Message From Tavis Smiley

Covering more than 10,000 square feet, the exhibition presents a historical continuum of pivotal moments in courage, conviction and creativity that helps to solidify the undeniable imprint of African Americans across the nation and around the world. The more than 200 artifacts and information within the exhibit provides context to how African Americans have contributed to and shaped American culture across four core areas: economic, socio-political, cultural and spiritual throughout the country’s history. This includes the inauguration of the first African-American president. The exhibit fills the Gantt Center galleries with objects as diverse as the typewriter Alex Haley used when he penned his Pulitzer Prize-winning book Roots to Prince’s guitar!

Exhibit displays from America I AM: The African American Imprint

Experience the groundbreaking presentation of rare artifacts, documents, multimedia and photographs that comprise this exhibit. Generations of Americans, people from all walks of life, are coming together to be inspired and empowered, leaving their imprint. It’s America’s story!

America I AM: The African American Imprint was developed in partnership with Tavis Smiley and organized by Cincinnati Museum Center and Arts and Exhibitions International (AEI), which also organized the King Tut exhibition - the most attended touring exhibition in the world in 2007. America I AM is made possible by Wal-Mart.