The national and international reputation of Ferris State University’s Jim Crow Museum
of Racist Memorabilia continues to draw attention. Next week, producers of the History
Channel’s popular “10 Things You Don’t Know About” television program are set to use
the Jim Crow Museum as a resource to educate its viewers about the Jim Crow era in
the U.S.
Henry Rollins, host of “10 Things You Don’t Know About,” is planning to film a segment about the Jim Crow Museum on Tuesday, May 20. As part of the Ferris visit, Rollins will conduct an interview with Ferris Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion David Pilgrim, who also is curator and founder of the Jim Crow Museum. Pilgrim’s interview will focus primarily on Jim Crow laws, how they developed and their impact.
The filming is expected to take place late in the morning through early in the afternoon on May 20. During that time, the Jim Crow Museum will be closed to visitors.
The “10 Things You Don’t Know” production team indicated that the Jim Crow Museum segment is tentatively scheduled to air late this summer or early in the fall. The show regularly airs on the History channel, its sister channel H2 and History International.
Rollins, described on the show’s website as a “punk rock icon,” takes viewers on a journey to discover “crazy new twists and tidbits behind the historical tales, figures and places you only thought you knew.” The show provides Rollins an opportunity to pursue another one of his passions, beyond his performing and writing – history. Rollins’ show focuses on fascinating, odd and shocking aspects of history.
The $1.3 million, 3,500-square-foot museum opened in April 2012 and is located in the Ferris Library for Information, Technology and Education (FLITE). The museum offers a timeline of the African American experience in the U.S. The timeline is divided into six sections: Africa before slavery, slavery in America, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, civil rights and post-civil rights. A goal of the museum is to become a national leader in discussions and research about race, race relations and racism.
Normal hours for the Jim Crow Museum are noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at its home in FLITE. Admission is free.