Exhibit on human rights activist Helen Suzman at Rosa Parks Museum continues | Events

A new exhibit is at Troy University’s Rosa Parks Museum, exploring the life and legacy of South African human rights activist Helen Suzman.

The graphic panel exhibition “Helen Suzman: Fighter for Human Rights” will be on display in the museum’s exhibit hall from June 2 through Aug. 27.

Suzman was a member of the South African Parliament from 1953-1989 and was the sole opposition voice condemning apartheid during the 13-year period (1961-1974) when she was the governing body’s only member of the Progressive Party. The exhibit explores nearly four decades of Suzman’s life and vision through photographs, personal letters, quotations from speeches and news articles. 

Organized by the Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Center for Jewish Studies and Research at the University of Cape Town, the stop at the Rosa Parks Museum is part of the first tour of the exhibition in the United States. The exhibition tells of the animosity, anti-Semitism and intimidation Suzman faced throughout her career.  It also highlights her enduring friendship with Nelson Mandela, which began in early 1967 when she met him at the infamous Robben Island Prison where he was a political prisoner.

Suzman was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Price in recognition of her contribution to the pursuit of justice in South Africa.  She received the United Nations Award of the International League for Human Rights in 1978.  In 1989, Queen Elizabeth conferred on her an Honorary Dame Commander (Civil Division) of the Order of the British Empire.

The U.S. tour of the exhibition is sponsored by the Dobkin Family Foundation and the Tolan Family Foundation.

All of the events will be held inside the museum auditorium. Admission is free and open to the public.

The exhibit hall at the Rosa Parks Museum is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
 
For more information on this exhibit or other upcoming events, contact curator Viola Moten at 334-241-8701 or vmoten@troy.edu.

Source: Troy University Office of University Relations