Detroit artist Mario Moore has a new exhibit, “Midnight and Canaan,” which explores the forgotten stories and figures involved in Detroit’s Underground Railroad. The exhibit was inspired by the story of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, a young enslaved couple who escaped enslavement in Kentucky through the Underground Railroad in Detroit and later Canada.

As a symbol of Black agency, Moore says his exhibit shines a light on some of the Underground Railroad’s historically prominent figures, like George DeBaptiste and William Lambert, who rarely received recognition for their contributions to freeing African Americans from enslavement. The exhibit is on display at the David Klein Gallery through November 5, 2022.

One Detroit Arts & Culture host Satori Shakoor sits down with Moore in his exhibit space to talk about the subjects he’s depicting, past and present, and how they help connect stories of Detroit’s Underground Railroad to today. Plus, they talk about the contributions African Americans made to Detroit in the 19th century, and how they continue to contribute to the City’s history now.

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