This year’s Black History Month will be celebrated at the New York state Capitol in Albany, with an exhibit of African-American literature, including works of Solomon Northup and Toni Morrison.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday the opening of The Transformative Power of the Narrative.
“We are proud to celebrate the countless invaluable contributions of the black community that have made New York a stronger and more progressive state,” Cuomo said in a statement.
The focus of this year’s exhibit is on African-American writers, but it will also feature the history and evolution of New York’s black press, the role of black actors, actresses, writers, and directors in American film and television.
“New York State is pleased to celebrate the work of five storytellers who have made a lasting impact on American literature, media and society,” Cuomo said in a release.
Recent blockbuster hits like “12 Years a Slave,” which garnered ten Oscar nominations, and “The Butler,” have drawn attention to African-American narratives told through the medium of film.
Some of the artifacts featured in the exhibit will include the first edition of Solomon Northup’s autobiography “Twelve Years a Slave,” Alex Haley’s “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” and a copy of The North Star newspaper, known as an anti-slavery newspaper.
