“Testify: Americana from Slavery to Today,” an exhibit of art and artifacts from the Diane & Alan Page Collection, will be on display at the Redwood Falls Public Library from August 18th until September 13th.

Each of the banners features a high-quality photograph of one or more items in the collection and gives its historical background. Each has a QR code helping connect viewers to an audio recording for each banner as well, making it more accessible.

Some of the banners are difficult to look at. One shows a variety of historical advertisements featuring racial caricatures, some with demeaning product names. Another is a notice about an 1833 slave auction that included an 11-month-old infant, describing the people for sale as if they were livestock. Others are triumphant in nature, like a bust of Rosa Parks commemorating her stand against segregated buses in 1955, and a banner showing support for Abraham Lincoln with the slogan “Our country, shall be one country!”

The “Testify” exhibit was paid for through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.