Minneapolis, MN — I TOO, AM AMERICA is a powerful multimedia art exhibit that brings poetry and mixed-media collage together to affirm the visibility, creativity, and resilience of Black youth in America. Inspired by Langston Hughes’ iconic poem I, Too, the exhibit amplifies the voices of Black children and invites audiences into a space of dignity, affirmation, and belonging. The exhibit is a collaboration between visual artist A. Drew Hammond and poet A. E. Wynter, whose combined practices explore identity, justice, and the enduring power of creative expression. Through bold visual collages and stirring poetry, I TOO, AM AMERICA reclaims space that Black children are too often denied and reframes it as one of strength, beauty, and possibility.
Opening Night – Thursday, February 5
6:00–8:00 PM
Minnesota African American Museum and Gallery
1256 Penn Ave No, 4th Floor, Minneapolis
Free Admission/free ramp parking
Public reception
Artist Talk – Thursday, March 12
6:00–8:00 PM
Minnesota African American Museum and Gallery
A conversation with the artists on process, collaboration, and the role of art in shaping belonging and visibility
About the Exhibit
Drawing inspiration from the legacy of Langston Hughes and the artistic kinship of figures such as Maya Angelou and Jean-Michel Basquiat, I TOO, AM AMERICA centers Black youth not as symbols, but as full authors of their own narratives. The exhibit invites audiences to engage with work that affirms worth, nurtures hope, and insists on belonging—because Black children are not outside the American story; they are central to it. The exhibition runs from February 1 – May 31. The exhibition is funded by a grant to MAAHMG from the Legacy Fund from the Minnesota State Legislature, Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
About the Artists
A. Drew Hammond
Andrew “A Drew” Hammond is a self-taught visual artist whose work focuses on the African American diaspora through expressive mixed-media collage. His practice provokes reflection while offering visual resolution rooted in history, faith, and cultural continuity. Hammond has exhibited widely across Minnesota and participated in major public art initiatives, including the Minneapolis Black Lives Matter mural and Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Art Connects Us billboard projects. He is the co-founder of Tipton Hammond Arts in the Northrup King Building and works as a Special Education Assistant with Minneapolis Public Schools.
A. E. Wynter
Ashley E. Wynter is a poet, editor, and community organizer whose work explores memory, justice, and collective care. Her award-winning poetry has appeared in numerous literary journals, and she is a 2025–2028 Jerome Hill Artist Fellow. Wynter has received multiple grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and has organized readings, workshops, and multimedia art experiences throughout the Twin Cities. She currently serves as an Editor at Copper Canyon Press.
