New Exhibit Exploring Racial Identity and Stereotypes Opening at Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid
September 1, 2026
Contact: CJ Budy
Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 580-237-1907
[email protected]
csrhc.org
ENID, Okla. — The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will open the traveling exhibition “Sorting Out Race: Examining Racial Identity and Stereotypes in Thrift Store Donations” on Thursday, September 3. This exhibition explores controversial themes and displays racially offensive images to stimulate a healthy community conversation about our ongoing struggles with race.
Every day, thrift stores receive items with racial imagery—antique advertising cards, collectible salt-and-pepper shakers, vintage children’s books and mugs with sports team mascots. This exhibit asks whether these items are harmless reminders of past attitudes or perpetuate stereotypes about race.
“Sorting Out Race” arose from a desire to divert items with racial content from thrift stores to an exhibit that would foster a healthy community conversation about racial stereotypes, past and present, to heighten awareness of our ongoing struggles with race.
The Kauffman Museum at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, created this traveling exhibit using items found at thrift shops in Kansas between 2010 and 2015.
The exhibit will close on Friday, October 30. It is located in the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Gallery at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. It is included with a regular museum admission ticket.
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.
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Editor’s Note: Photos of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center are available upon request.
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