‘Race: Are We So Different?’ opening at SC State Museum

The S.C. State Museum will challenge museum goers to think about race and equality with the June 4 opening of its exhibit, “Race: Are We So Different?”

“Race” was developed by the Science Museum of Minnesota, where it premiered in January 2007. Since its debut, the exhibit has traveled to more than 50 museums nationwide.

According to Willie Calloway, executive director of State Museum, “the exhibit is a scientific look at the social construct of race and asks questions such as: ‘what is race?,’ ‘does skin color equal race?,’ ‘how are we alike, how are we different?,’ ‘what do scientists say about race?,’ ‘what does a person’s appearance really tell you?,’ ‘how does skin color privilege some and hurt others?,’ and ‘how does the U.S. Census count you?”

Calloway said the museum has formed a multicultural advisory planning committee of community members to aid in developing programs for the public that will maximize the positive potential impact of the exhibit.

“The events of this past year in South Carolina have made us all pause and ask ourselves deeper questions, and I am hopeful that by presenting this exhibit, the state museum will do our part in helping to answer those questions,” said Calloway.

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 4:49 PM.