About the W.E.B. Du Bois and the Digital Griots Exhibition
W.E.B. Du Bois and the Digital Griots installation delves into the dynamic data visualizations created for the award-winning Exhibit of American Negroes at the 1900 Paris Exposition, curated by an entire team of prominent African American men. The 1900 exhibit showcased the resilience, strength, and excellence of the first generation of freed African Americans, only 30 years after the abolishment of slavery in the United States. Du Bois’ hand drawn illustrations for the exhibit demonstrated African American life, culture, and progress during a time racist misconception surrounded the descendants of enslaved people in the U.S.
The exhibition presents community data stories for NE Portland and Old Town Chinatown. A special contribution displayed in this exhibition includes a commemorative bronze plaque designed by Suenn Ho created from an oral history interview project that was commissioned by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (Portland Lodge).
W.E.B. Du Bois and the Digital Griots demonstrates the power of modern storytellers and data to inspire and motivate visitors to explore the possibilities for creating compelling stories of their own that elucidate larger social, racial, and cultural realities and issues.
The exhibition is sponsored by the City of Portland’s Smart City PDX, led by the Open Data program, and curated by a team of staff at the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS).
Please join us for the opening reception on Aug. 1, 2024 at 5 p.m.
Location: The Portland Building, second floor (mezzanine)
Address: 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204
Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
Cost: Free, open to the public
Participate in the W.E.B. Du Bois and the Digital Griot Open Data Challenge (Portland Youth)
We invite young Portlanders and encourage students of color in high school to participate in the W.E.B. Du Bois and the Digital Griots Open Data Challenge to create their own data stories about their life, experience, community, culture, heritage, and creatively illustrate the untold stories rooted in Portland’s communities of color. See below for more information.
Submissions open: Aug. 1, 2024
Submissions close: Sept. 30, 2024
Download the Open Data Challenge call for submissions:
Requirements: Must be a high school student living in the City of Portland
For questions, comments or concerns please reach out to smartcitypdx@portlandoregon.gov.