Fighters for Freedom: William Howard Johnson Picturing Justice

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Harriet Tubman. George Washington Carver. Mahatma Ghandhi. All are celebrated—along with less familiar historical figures—by William H. Johnson (1901–1970) in his Fighters for Freedom series. This tribute to African American activists, scientists, teachers, and performers as well as international heads of state was painted in the aftermath of World War II by Johnson, himself an African American artist. Through their stories, he suggests the pursuit of freedom is an ongoing, interconnected struggle, with moments of both triumph and tragedy, and he invites us to reflect on our own struggles for justice today. In Fighters for Freedom, Johnson reminds us that individual achievement and commitment to social justice are at the heart of the American story.

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Early American Reinstallation

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Clearly Indigenous