Hannah Deschenes, David Rush, Sydney Baker, Carlene Bermann, Thaddeus Booth Trudo, Nick Del Duca, David Gain, Antonella Mastroianni, Meg McGee, Collin Sovie

The invention of the automobile was revolutionary for travelers in the United States. The car offered opportunity, allowing Americans newfound independence and freedoms. The car held even more significance for African Americans who had traditionally found their movements restricted by legal and illegal means. Cars provided an option for Black travelers besides public transit, which was often associated with segregation, humiliation, and violence backed by Jim Crow Laws. With the invention of the car, African Americans could go where there wanted to when they wanted to. However, with this new freedom came challenges. Black Americans who traveled into unfamiliar towns or roadside businesses could experience refusal of service, prejudice, or violence. While Jim Crow Laws no longer dictate which business or towns Black Americans can travel to, discrimination and violence on the road still exist today.  Based on the research of Distinguished Professor Dr. Gretchen Sorin and her book Driving While Black, the exhibition Black Mobility in Chenango County seeks to uncover the systematic struggle for independence that Black Americans faced and continue to meet following the invention of the automobile. Installed at the Chenango County Historical Society in Norwich, New York, Black Mobility in Chenango County will utilize images and objects to tell the Black motorist’s story throughout Chenango County. The exhibit will pose perspective-style questions to audiences and encourage conversations about mobility and race.