Blacks:USA:1973 : 2 Columbus Circle, September 26 to November 15, 1973

This 1973 exhibition at New York Cultural Center was, as stated by the museum, "the first major comprehensive exhibition of black art chosen by an all-black selection committee." Benny Andrews acted as guest curator and committee coordinator to display more than 100 paintings, sculptures, collages, drawings, and graphic work, accompanied by programming on Black achievements in all the arts.



" ...the New York area has never before seen a major show of black artists chosen entirely by blacks ... Where artists for one reason or another have faced prejudicial situations in the past, we feel it is important that they make selections of their works among themselves..."—Introduction



The cover features a reproduction of Jack Johnson, painted by Raymond Saunders in 1971. Johnson was the first African-American boxer to win the Heavyweight Champion of the World title and a successful jazz musician who Saunders saw as an icon of African-American success and rising above adversity.