Docu Center in Ramstein shows history of civil rights

The Docu Center Ramstein sponsors a special exhibition about the African-American civil rights movement until July 19 in the Museum im Westrich in Ramstein-Miesenbach.

The exhibition, called “The Civil Rights Struggle, African American GIs, and Germany,” shows the connection between the U.S. military presence abroad and the advancement of civil rights in the United States.

It presents the first results of a joint research initiative of the German Historical Institute, Washington, D.C., Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), and the Heidelberg Center for American Studies in cooperation with the Docu Center Ramstein.

Between 1945 and the end of the Cold War, about 15 to 20 million American Soldiers, families and civilian employees lived in Germany. Two to 3 million of these were African-American. The joint research initiative investigated the role African-American GIs played in carrying the civil rights movement to Germany, which was host to the largest contingent of U.S. troops deployed outside the states.

“The Civil Rights Struggle exhibition consists of brief texts and historical black and white photos,” said Michael Geib, chief of the Docu Center Ramstein. “We hope to lure many Americans and especially school classes, who should learn about this time.”

The Museum im Westrich is located at Miesenbacher Strasse 1. Opening hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays.

For details, call 06371-838-005, e-mail info@dc-ramstein.de or visit www.aacvr-germany.org.