SELMA IS NOW: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF SPIDER MARTIN
Exhibition & Cultural Conversation at Broward’s African American Research Library and Cultural Center
WHAT:
Selma Is Now: The Photography of Spider Martin — a powerful exhibition featuring newly restored photographs documenting the 1965 Selma marches and the Edmund Pettus Bridge, drawn from the Spider Martin Photographic Archive at the Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas.
The exhibition opens with a Cultural Conversation, “Selma: Legacy, Lens, and Liberation,” examining the enduring impact of Spider Martin’s images on democracy, justice, and civic responsibility.
WHEN:
- Exhibition Dates: January 31 – June 27, 2026
- Opening Cultural Conversation: January 31, 2026 | 3:30 – 5:00 PM
WHERE:
African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC)
2650 Sistrunk Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
WHO:
Featured speakers for the opening Cultural Conversation include:
- Doug McCraw, Founder of FATVillage
- Chevara Orrin, Equity Strategist and daughter of civil rights activist James Bevel
DETAILS:
The exhibition invites reflection on the courage of the Selma marchers and the lasting legacy of the Voting Rights Act. Through Spider Martin’s lens, visitors are confronted with both the moral urgency of the past and its relevance today.
“My decision to produce Selma Is Now is deeply rooted in my upbringing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama,” said McCraw. “As I revisited this history, I was struck by how many of the same challenges persist today. The fight for voting rights, equality, and the freedoms promised by the Constitution remains unfinished. These images honor the bravery of those who stood in nonviolent defiance and remind us of our shared humanity—and the responsibility we all bear to protect democracy, then and now.”
“Spider Martin’s photographs are more than historical documents—they are moral witnesses,” said historian and Library Regional Manager of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs. “Selma Is Now asks us to confront both the courage and the cost of fighting for democracy. These images remind us that ordinary people, united by conviction and community, can change the course of a nation.”
“These images are not just historical—they are a mirror, a portal, and a call to conscience,” said Chevara Orrin. “Spider Martin’s photographs demand that we confront the raw truths of injustice and remember that the pursuit of equity is not a closed chapter—it is an urgent present.”
The program is sponsored by Wayne and Lucretia Weiner and presented in conjunction with the exhibition.
ADMISSION:
Free and open to the public.
Registration is required for each event.
REGISTRATION:
To attend the Cultural Conversation, register at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cultural-conversation-selma-is-now-legacy-lens-and-liberation-tickets-1975639140853?aff=oddtdtcreator
PARTNERS:
The exhibition and opening program are presented in partnership by the African American Research Library and Cultural Center and the Broward County Cultural Division.
About the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC)
The African American Research Library and Cultural Center is one of Broward County’s premier cultural institutions, dedicated to preserving and celebrating African American history, culture, and literature. Through dynamic exhibitions, educational programs, cultural events, and community partnerships, AARLCC serves as a vital hub for creativity, learning, and cultural exchange.
About Broward County Libraries
Broward County Libraries Division, named 2020 and 2015 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, was founded in 1974 and isone of the largest and busiest library systems in Florida. Explore all offerings at Broward.org/Library, or follow Libraries on Facebook and X.
