The United for Human Rights art exhibition in Washington, DC, co-hosted by the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, Youth for Human Rights International's Washington, DC chapter, and Art Impact International, featured a commissioned artwork called "Bloom" honoring African-American men who fought in the Civil War. Dr. Frank Smith, founder of the African-American Civil War Museum and a civil rights activist who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke at the opening, explaining that President Lincoln allowed Black soldiers to be recruited into the Union Army in 1863 after which approximately 200,000 Black men, mostly former slaves, served as Union soldiers.
Dr. Smith described this as a turning point in the war, noting that it allowed former slaves to help fight to keep their freedom while assisting the Union cause. He also shared a personal story about encountering Dr. King at an airport, where King advised him to "Never hang up your marching shoes," advice that led Smith to a career as a DC City Councilmember and museum founder. The exhibition, held at the historic Fraser Mansion as part of the monthly First Friday: Art Walk Dupont Circle, featured a period-authentic Black Union soldier in uniform alongside artwork focused on human rights and civil rights.
Marcus Manning, Deputy Director of the DC Mayor's office on African American Affairs, attended and thanked the artists for their work. Azhar Haq, Executive Director of Youth for Human Rights International's DC chapter, emphasized the significance of art in human rights advocacy, stating that "Art speaks for itself" and that through such events, "we can get the word out on human rights, particularly to youth so they become advocates for tolerance and peace." Free educational materials on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights were available to attendees, courtesy of Youth for Human Rights International, whose mission is to provide human rights educational resources that inform and unite individuals and organizations.
These materials on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are also available free at www.youthforhumanrights.org. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/YHRDC. The exhibition represents a convergence of historical remembrance and contemporary human rights education, connecting the struggles of African-American Civil War soldiers with ongoing efforts to promote universal human rights principles. By linking Black History Month commemorations with human rights advocacy, the event highlights how historical narratives can inform present-day social justice initiatives, particularly through artistic expression that makes complex issues accessible to diverse audiences.
Art Walk Dupont, the recurring cultural experience that hosted the exhibition, brings free art exhibits to galleries, embassies, and cultural centers throughout the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood, providing a platform for community engagement with important social themes. The integration of historical education about African-American contributions to the Civil War with modern human rights materials creates a multidimensional approach to social awareness, demonstrating how art can serve as both memorial and catalyst for contemporary advocacy efforts.
