The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (The Wright Museum) is pleased to present Double ID, a monumental exhibition bringing together 54 works from the private collection of acclaimed actress CCH Pounder (the CCH Pounder-Koné Collection). On view April 26 – October 20, 2024, the exhibition foregrounds depictions of Black men, exploring various representational strategies through the lens of W.E.B. Du Bois’ theory of “double consciousness.”

The exhibition’s curatorial framework was conceptualized by Neil A. Barclay, President and CEO of The Wright, in consideration of the legacies of double consciousness and its continued relevance in the contemporary Black experience. First presented in Du Bois’ 1903 collection of essays The Souls of Black Folk, double consciousness describes the dissonance of Black self-perception within a dominant white society, and the conflicting journey to understanding oneself as a result.

Featuring works by an intergenerational group of artists across the African Diaspora, Double ID paints a multifaceted portrait of Black masculinity, challenging stereotypes about Black men throughout history and culture. The selection of featured artists range from those with emerging practices to internationally renowned artists including Greg Bailey, Elizabeth Catlett, Louis Delsarte, Tewodros Hagos, Sesse Ngeselin-Elangwe, Fahamu Pecou, Ebony G. Patterson, Malick Sidibé, Alexi Torres and Kehinde Wiley.