The Struggle for Freedom in Kansas - Jan. 4-Feb. 6, 2011

Commemorating the Struggle for Freedom in Kansas
January 4-February 6, 2011

Exhibit Featuring Local High School Artists

Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Kansas statehood
Kansas became a state on January 29, 1861. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Kansas statehood, Topeka High School students will create an exhibit of art inspired by the theme “The Struggle for Freedom in Kansas.”

When Kansas Territory opened for settlement in 1854, the concept of freedom stood front and center. Abolitionists and pro-slavery forces began clashing over the question of whether Kansas would enter the Union as a Slave State or a Free State. Episodes of violence earned the territory the nickname “Bloody Kansas.” Little wonder that in 1861 Kansans chose as their state motto the Latin phrase “Ad Astra per Aspera,” which means “To the stars through difficulties.”

A century later, the national spotlight again shone on Kansas concerning the long struggle to provide freedom and equality to all Americans. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that “in the field of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” The ruling became a turning point in history and helped launch the civil rights movement.

Expressing stories through art is an ancient human tradition. These young Kansas artists will continue that tradition by depicting stories of sacrifice and achievement in the struggle to provide “liberty and justice for all.” Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind exhibit.

Photos courtesy of Kansas Memory website, Kansas State Historical Society.

Presented by the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site as part of the 2010-2011 program series, Commemorating Our Nation's Struggle for Freedom: From Civil War to Civil Rights.