Illuminating Du Bois: Examining the Legacy of a Sociologist through Research and Design
Channel: Cooper Hewitt
Date: 22/02/2023

"Deconstructing Power: W. E. B. Du Bois at the 1900 World’s Fair" places decorative arts from Cooper Hewitt’s permanent collection in dialogue with 20 of W. E. B. Du Bois’ innovative data visualizations. On loan from the Library of Congress, these groundbreaking visualizations document the progress of Black Americans and life inside the veil of systemic oppression.   

This conversation, hosted by Cooper Hewitt and Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, highlights the legacy of Du Bois’ work as a sociologist and historian, which has inspired researchers and designers across disciplines.

Moderated by Lanisa Kitchiner, consulting curator of Deconstructing Power, this discussion marks the launch of Smithsonian Libraries and Archives’ Research Collections in Conversations series. Speakers include Hollis L. Gentry Brown, Nilda Lopez, Cheryl D. Miller, and Kara Tucina Olidge.