America I Am Mobile Experience Begins Nationwide TourTavis Smiley, Walmart, and Special Guests Kicked Off ‘America I AM Across America’ at ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans NEW ORLEANS (July 4, 2008) — Thousands of people united at the ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans today to celebrate the launch of “America I AM Across America,” a mobile experience leading to the “America I AM: The African American Imprint” museum exhibition. Through artifacts, documents, video and music, the mobile tour will bring the exhibition’s inspirational message to the hearts of more than 40 communities in advance of the exhibit opening. The celebration included a special performance by Grammy-nominated recording artist Ledisi, and remarks by broadcaster Tavis Smiley; Cornel West, professor of Religion and African American studies at Princeton University; the exhibition’s executive producer John Fleming, president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History; and Rosalind Brewer, president, Southeast Division, Walmart. As it journeys across the nation from July to November, “America I AM Across America” will make appearances at festivals, African American museums, landmarks, schools and other community gatherings in cities including New Orleans, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Memphis, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, and many more. The exhibition is made possible by Walmart, which serves as its presenting sponsor, and also will host the mobile tour in several cities. ExxonMobil joins the mobile tour as the sponsor fueling the truck across America. Tour schedule details are available at www.AmericaIAM.org. The museum exhibition “America I AM: The African American Imprint” will celebrate 400 years of African American contributions to the nation through artifacts, documents, multimedia, photos and music. “America I AM Across America” will serve as a traveling microcosm of the exhibition, a multi-sensory experience complete with artifacts, text, video, music and a unique visitor interactive opportunity. In a customized mobile recording booth, visitors will have the opportunity to leave their own “imprints” as recorded video messages that will travel with the exhibition. As the exhibit travels to cities across the country, this living imprint will grow to become the largest oral history project recorded in U.S. history. “‘America I AM: The African American Imprint’ encourages all people to connect in a meaningful way with the foundations of democracy, cultural diversity, exploration and free enterprise, which began when the first Africans arrived in Jamestown,” said Tavis Smiley. “By telling the stories of the events of the past, we can help the leaders of the future set the stage for active participation in the democratic process for years to come. The ESSENCE Music Festival was the perfect place to kick off this tour and I’m looking forward to visiting other communities as well, as this tour travels across America.” “Walmart is proud to be part of such an innovative display of the trials and triumphs of the African American community,” said Rosalind Brewer, president, Southeast Division, Walmart. “It is important to recognize African American history as American history and as something that should be celebrated throughout the year. And there is no better way to share the enormous contributions of African Americans with communities across the country than through a nationwide traveling exhibit.” “ExxonMobil is proud to be a part of the historic ‘America I AM Across America’ mobile experience across the U.S.,” said Ben Soraci, U.S. retail sales director for ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing Company. “With programs ranging from education to entrepreneurship, The Smiley Group builds diversity in the business community, which is significant for companies like ExxonMobil. Meeting the world's fundamental and growing need for energy is a massive undertaking, and we are inspired by the focus on excellence and accomplishment that remains the hallmark of The Smiley Group's achievements.” Developed in partnership with The Smiley Group, Inc., and organized by Arts and Exhibitions International (AEI) and Cincinnati Museum Center, “America I AM: The African American Imprint” is a four-year touring exhibition that will tell the story of the nation’s African people and their legacies through objects, texts, religion, music, narration and media culled from every period of the nation’s history. Featuring more than 150 extraordinary artifacts, the exhibit will present a historical continuum of pivotal moments in courage, conviction and creativity that solidifies the undeniable imprint of African Americans across the nation and around the world. More details about the mobile tour and exhibition, including a gallery walkthrough moderated by ABOUT The Smiley Group, Inc. ABOUT Arts and Exhibitions International (AEI) AEI is part of AEG Exhibitions, an affiliate division of AEG LIVE. AEG LIVE is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance and the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. For more information, log onto www.artsandexhibitions.com. ABOUT Cincinnati Museum Center ABOUT Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) ABOUT ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing Company # # # |
