Sorting Out Race Exhibit
Examining Racial Identity and Stereotypes in Thrift Store Donations
June 6 to September 28, 2023
Sorting Out Race is a traveling exhibit curated by the Kauffman Museum at Bethel College.
Everyday thrift stores receive donations of items with racial imagery—antique advertising
cards, collectible salt-and-pepper shakers, vintage children’s books, and mugs with
sports team mascots. Are these harmless reminders of past attitudes or do they perpetuate
stereotypes about race? Should thrift stores sell these objects? Or should they be
“sorted out” of the resale environment?
Sorting Out Race arose out of a desire to divert these artifacts from thrift stores to an exhibit that would generate a healthy community conversation about our continuing struggles with race.
Sorting Out Race will be exhibited on the first floor of the MSU Library through September 28. It is free and members of the public are welcome to attend. Click here to see current library hours.
MSU Library is pleased to partner with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Academic Diversity Partners to bring the exhibit to Montana State University.
Find Out More
- Find out more about the exhibit and Kauffman Museum by visiting their website.
- Share Your Voice - An Interactive handout provided by the Kauffman Museum. Download this document to create a new name and logo for the Washington football team and design a new flag for your state.