Tuskegee, Alabama, is a significant historical site known for its contributions to African American achievement, including the establishment of the first law school in the state and the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers, now Tuskegee University. The city is the birthplace of notable figures like Rosa Parks and Lionel Richie and played a crucial role in civil rights advancements, including landmark court cases for voting rights and education equality. However, it also faced challenges, notably the controversial medical experiment that marred its legacy.
A ground-breaking book devoted to the life and work of Hayward Oubre brings
together important examples of Oubre’s sculptures, paintings, and prints to
explore his career, creative process, and legacy.
African American artists Hale Woodruff and Nancy Elizabeth Prophet worked in Paris before becoming colleagues in Atlanta, where they significantly influenced art education. Woodruff began teaching drawing and painting at Atlanta University in 1931, marking a new era in art instruction. When Prophet joined in 1934 to teach sculpture, the art offerings expanded dramatically, making the Coordinated Art Program at Atlanta University Center a premier destination for African Americans studying art in the Southeast. This richly illustrated book explores their lives and their roles as teachers and mentors.
Hale Woodruff (1900-1980), born in Cairo, Illinois, briefly attended the Herron Art School and the Art Institute of Chicago before working at the Senate Avenue YMCA in Indianapolis. There, he connected with influential figures such as W. E. B. DuBois and Countee Cullen. After winning awards for his drawings, he moved to Paris in 1927. At Atlanta University, he aimed to instill cultural and social responsibility in his students, encouraging authentic portrayals of the Black experience. He initiated an annual exhibition that became a vital platform for African American artists.
Nancy Elizabeth Prophet (1890-1960), the first African American graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, studied in Paris under renowned sculptor Victor Joseph Jean Ambrose Segoffin. Associated with the New Negro Movement, she advocated for African Amer
