This fall, the de Young museum is hosting the internationally acclaimed exhibition, Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963–1983, which was organized by Tate Modern in London. This powerful and provocative presentation focuses on the pivotal decades between 1963 and 1983, when conversations about race and identity defined national politics and social ideals. Featuring more than 150 works by over 60 artists, the de Young’s presentation uniquely includes pieces closely connected to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Galvanized to take action by the racism and prejudice that pervaded the nation, and inspired by the Civil Rights struggle for equality and justice, Black artists contributed to the Black Power movement by promoting personal pride, collective solidarity and empowerment, political and social activism, and pan-African nationalism.

Their paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, collages, assemblages, and custom clothing honored heroes and martyrs such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, combated racism and racist stereotypes, and helped disseminate the idea that “Black is Beautiful.” Long marginalized, these revelatory works and the enduring relevance of their message are now understood to be central to the complex history of American culture.