"Keeping It Real" at the Pratt

By Tom Hall,

Jamyla Krempel

Published February 24, 2014 at 8:45 AM EST

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An Army Barbie

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An Army Barbie

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Photos, dolls and a jacket adorned with a "Black is Beautiful" patch

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Photos, dolls and a jacket adorned with a "Black is Beautiful" patch

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From "Keeping It Real," a 1935 report "The Negro Community of Baltimore."

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From "Keeping It Real," a 1935 report "The Negro Community of Baltimore."

Jamyla Kay

Photos, dolls and a jacket adorned with a "Black is Beautiful" patch

For more than 25 years, Jean Thompson has been collecting artifacts of the African-American experience. Many of them are now on display at The Enoch Pratt Free Library in an exhibit called "Keeping It Real: One Collector's Quest for Artifacts of African-American Culture and History."

Tom Hall took a tour with Thompson through the exhibit, and she explained how items like dolls, album covers and photos have made an impact on her and in some cases-have led to a greater understanding about African-American history and her own family history.

"Keeping It Real" is up until March 30.

Produced by Jamyla [email protected]