The Memphis Museum of Science and History (MoSH) at the Pink Palace Mansion is host to, “Overcoming Hateful Things,” a powerful new traveling exhibition from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery.
Media, museum partners and invited guests — more than 60 in total — were among the first to walk through this historical experience that is both unsettling and urgent. This emotionally charged exhibit is open to the public and runs through Oct. 19, 2025.
The Jim Crow Museum, located on the campus of Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, houses the largest publicly accessible collection of racist artifacts in the country. Curated by Dr. David Pilgrim, the museum features more than 3,000 objects used to denigrate and stereotype African Americans throughout U.S. history. This exhibition, “Overcoming Hateful Things”, brings more than 130 of those artifacts to Memphis, marking the city as the first stop on the national tour.
“I think what’s so wonderful about this exhibition is it’s really not focused on the hateful things — it’s actually overcoming hateful things,” said Raka Nandi, director of Exhibits and Collections for MoSH. “It is a story about African American resilience and how American history is messy and uncomfortable. What’s crazy about it all is African Americans never saw themselves this way. They never saw themselves as what whites depicted them to be.”
The exhibit’s title is fitting. While visitors encounter deeply offensive and painful relics, the real takeaway is the strength, resistance and unbreakable spirit of Black Americans. Yes, there are degrading images — Mammy dolls, minstrel show posters, pickaninny caricatures — but there are also stirring photographs of marches, protests and voices that refused to be silenced.
The Jim Crow era refers to the period following Reconstruction (roughly the 1880s through the 1960s), when a series of state and local laws in the South legally enforced racial segregation and second-class citizenship for African Americans. These laws weren’t just about social customs. They were codified policies determining where Black people could live, go to school, eat, work and even walk.
There are signs in the exhibit that make it undeniable: “Colored Waiting Room.” “No Dogs, Negroes or Mexicans.” “White Customers Only.” These were not suggestions. They were rules backed by police, courts and lynch mobs.
“This is an inflection point in our history, and as a country, this was massive change for us,” said MoSH Executive Director Kevin Thompson. “If we look throughout our long history, we see instances of things similar to this, where one group’s trying to establish dominance, and they do that either through inclusivity or by putting somebody else down. This is a very recent example. Many folks are still very much alive who experienced this.”
What makes “Overcoming Hateful Things” especially impactful is its balance between confronting horror and honoring resilience. Alongside degrading imagery are powerful visuals of civil rights marches, protest signs and moments of defiance, from sit-ins to boycotts. A looping video shows speeches, interviews and news clips from the era, reminding viewers that real people lived — and resisted — this reality.
“This exhibit is a no-doubt impactful, educational and cultural catalyst,” Thompson added. “Through additive museum experiences like this one, we can enable a wider and deeper net of Memphians and visitors to ‘begin the exploration’ and fulfill our MoSH mission to educate and inspire.”
“Overcoming Hateful Things” is not a comfortable exhibit, but it is a necessary one. It encourages visitors to confront the past, reflect on the present and take responsibility for the future. It is recommended for ages 12 and up because of the sensitive content and is included with general admission to the Pink Palace Museum.
For more information or to plan your visit, go to www.memphismuseums.org.
