January 30–May 2, 2010
It’s a simple truth: People are different.
Throughout history, these differences have been a source of community strength and personal identity. They have also been the basis for discrimination and oppression. This exhibit provides an opportunity to understand race from a biological, cultural, and historical perspective through engaging, hands-on science experiences; real artifacts; and videos that present people’s unique stories.
Explore key issues that relate to race including:
Skin color does not equal race.
Use a microscope to view your skin close up. Scan it and watch as your image appears on screen with skin images from dozens of other people.
Voices do not identify race.
Use a large touch-screen monitor to try to match a voice you hear to a photo you see.
We all have common ancestors.
Use a wheel to control an animated interactive map of how humans spread out from Africa to populate the world.For more information on the exhibit as well as games for kids, insightful videos, blogs, and a virtual tour, please visit www.understandingrace.org.
Race: Are We So Different? was developed by the American Anthropological Association in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota, and is presented nationally by the Best Buy Children’s Foundation. Locally sponsored by KQED.
Post-Exhibit Discussion Groups
Community and school groups grades 4–12, as well as adult groups, are encouraged to sign up for a private, post-exhibit discussion. Facilitated by specially trained students and staff leaders from the UC Berkeley community, the discussion will allow your group to explore the content and concepts in this provocative exhibit in a safe, carefully facilitated environment.
Discussion Cost: Group Admission plus $2 per person. By reservation only; call 510-642-5134 at least three weeks in advance of your planned visit.
