Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia

The Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, displays a wide variety of artifacts, including cartoons, figurines, and advertising, depicting the history of racist portrayals of African Americans in American popular culture. Curator David Pilgrim explains, in his essay "The Garbage Man: Why I collect racist objects": "I collect this garbage because I believe, and know to be true, that forms of intolerance can be used to teach tolerance." The Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia is a collection of racist artifacts dating from the present back to the segregation era in the United States, put together by Ferris State University Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, David Pilgrim. The exhibit has over 9,000 pieces.