The Kinsey Collection

African American History’s Evangelist Visits Santa Cruz

By Noel Smith

Through May 22 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

This exhibit of authentic and rare art, artifacts, books, documents and original manuscripts that tell the story of African American achievement and contribution is at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) through May 22, 2016. Michael Watkins, Superintendent of Santa Cruz County Office of Education, contacted the Kinsey Foundation and arranged for the Kinsey’s – Bernard, Shirley and son Khalil — to bring the exhibition to Santa Cruz.

These Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey — “The Kinsey Collection: Where Art and History Intersect,” has been on national tour since 2007, and has been seen by over 6 million visitors. The Kinsey collection has exhibited at the California African American Museum, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, The DuSable Museum of African American History, The Norton Museum of Art, The Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and has been cited in 3 national awards including the President’s National Award for Museum and Library Services.

Bernard and Shirley Kinsey are not just collectors, their collection has a purpose — to tell the history of African American achievement and contributions to the history and culture of our country. Even through the most difficult of times and harshest of cultural impediments, African Americans have been able to add their accomplishments to the importance of America in world history.

When Kinsey speaks — as he did at a breakfast/reception for local educators hosted by Watkins at Chaminade — he tells of the descent of our country’s attitude toward our black brothers. How a country of promise became a country divided over the meaning of color and race and its place in society.

The terrible consequences of that division, the 15 million Africans kidnapped from their homeland, brutalized throughout the Americas in Plantations (which Kinsey says should be called prisons) and the 700,000 American lives lost in conflict and cruelty trying to resolve that issue. Then he tells about how our country remained divided for another 100 years in the treatment of its African American citizens before our institutions finally began to defend and codify their rights in our legislatures and our courts.

Kinsey tells effectively and passionately about how through those hard times from about 1580 on, there were always African American writers, inventors, scientists, officers, craftsmen, painters, musicians, composers, authors, ministers, advocates and activists. They made and documented history that was often ignored, amended, or abridged. Bernard and Shirley Kinsey have spent much of their lives and fortune to search out, discover and resurrect much of this hidden history of blacks in America.

The MAH is providing free admission to this exhibition of the Kinsey Collection for all Santa Cruz County K-12 students, Cabrillo and UCSC students. Just show your ID at the desk Feb 27-May 22, Tuesday-Sunday, 11-5. Self-guided tour materials also available for school groups and visitors.

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Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA. Phone: 831-429-1964. Website: http://santacruzmah.org