We Belong Here case render

We Belong Here

On View 1 Center
Online

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the federal legislation that unintentionally helped bring equality to sports, this 30-foot display case illuminates three athletes’ stories while a large mural and access to digital content expand the narrative with additional accomplishments and struggles. We Belong Here features Naomi Osaka’s tennis racquet from the 2020 U.S. Open Tennis Championship, the U.S. National Soccer team jersey worn by Samantha Mewis when she was named U.S. Soccer Player of the Year in 2020, and a T-shirt skateboarder Leo Baker, a trans, non-binary athlete, made to express their identity in 2019. Baker made the cut for the inaugural U.S. Olympic Skateboarding team that year but declined to compete when faced with having to skate for the women’s team. This highlights case looks at the long trajectory of struggle for equal opportunity in sports that began long before the watershed legislation and athletes’ continuing journey with a law that is constantly evolving.

About the Artifact Walls

Artifact walls and History Highlights displays highlight the depth and breadth of the collections in hundreds of linear feet of glass-front cases lining the center of each floor. They reflect the museum’s core mission to collect, study, and exhibit objects from our nation’s rich and diverse history.

This exhibition is generously made possible by the Honorable Barbara Hackman Franklin.