Activism -

Content warning: violence, racism, language

Campus demonstrations, petition letters and activism posters/artwork directly protest US involvement in the Vietnam War. Zines, posters and newspaper clips discuss the value of Black art in relation to ongoing civil and human rights violations experienced during this era.

Bold text with illustration of child carrying another child on back

Red stop sign with "war" added below

Hitler holding a mask of Nixon

Group of student protesters climbing the Statehouse steps

newspaper page with headline "Senior in Photography Teaches for her Thesis” at top left of page

newspaper page with small box in left corner with headline “Student Teaches”

Newspaper article

Petition on white page with multiple signatures

Person in a graveyard installing a cross

Students setting up artwork on sidewalk

First page of a printed letter

Person adding signature to large artwork protesting US invasion of Southeast Asia

typed document titled “White Affirmation of Support for the RISD Black Community”

typed document written in 1968 stating the support of Black RISD students for peers at Brown University

a newsprint page with an article headline that reads “Student Group Turns Activist”

newspaper page with story headline "Ecology Action" at top of page

newspaper page with headline “Torres” running along right side of page

newspaper page with headline “John Torres—Troublemaker” at top of page

Get to know RISD

layer of rust-colored sheets with words and phrases like “struggle of being us”, “preservation” and “rage” written atop them

Center for Social Equity and Inclusion (SEI)

Learn about the center and its support of equity and inclusion initiatives at RISD.

students walking on the sidewalk in front of the red brick Waterman Building on RISD’s campus

Mission and values

Learn what drives all we do—as an institution and an engaged creative community.

risd graduating class of 1902 black and white historical photo

Explore the collection and learn more about RISD’s history and how it has changed over time.