From 1965-to 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. moved his crusade for Civil Rights to Chicago, in a campaign named The Chicago Freedom Movement. This campaign focused on housing equality and the elimination of slums.

With the support of Chicago activists, Dr. King for the first time raised attention to the issue of open housing. He did this in a series of infamous, nonviolent freedom marches in all-white neighborhoods that took place during the summer of 1966.

Photographer and Civil Rights activist, Bernard Kleina, participated in and documented the demonstrations and open housing marches to capture these trying and violent times. Widely praised as the only photographer to have captured full-color snapshots of Dr. King, Kleina, by his photographic images, depicts a relentless struggle that coincided with growing resistance of working-class whites who feared the impact that open housing would have on their neighborhoods.

The entire photography exhibit includes contemporary photographs reminding us that we still have a long way to go before we achieve what Dr. King fought for and what we are fighting for now -neighborhoods with opportunities to work, shop, and play safely, where everyone is treated fairly and without prejudice or hurt in their search for a home.

To visit this exhibit, buy tickets here.

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