On Friday night, Michener Library held the opening ceremony for a banner exhibit from the Smithsonian Museum.
The exhibit is titled “I Want the Wide American Earth,” and tells the story of Asian- and Pacific-Americans.
Created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, the exhibit consists of several colorful banners illustrating Asian Pacific American history. The route of banners winds from the library front desk, around the back of the library and ends by the computers.
According to the exhibit’s page on the library website, the exhibit, “tells the rich and complex stories of the very first Asian immigrants, including their participation in key moments in American history: Asian immigrants panned in the Gold Rush, hammered ties in the Transcontinental Railroad, fought on both sides in the Civil War and helped build the nation’s agricultural system.”
As visitors journey along the path of banners, they will also learn about some of the struggles and hardships endured by Asian- and Pacific-Americans throughout history, including those who fought for civil rights or those who were detained in interment camps during World War II.
An accompanying 14-page comic e-book is available for free download to complement the banner exhibit.
Several events related to the exhibit are planned to take place throughout its stay at UNC.
The exhibit will remain in the library through April 8.
