Asian, Woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought this was an amazing exhibit because it allowed me to recognize the importance of not only black history but it allowed me to become more educated and intrigued about black fashion. It was amazing to see how each decade was represented in a unique light.
• Would like to see more women of color in museums because…Yes. I think we need more representation of women of color in museums because more people need to be educated and informed about other cultures. It would allow them to step out of their comfort zones and allow them to see how these women are strong and powerful influences back then and today.
• What did you most enjoy…I loved how there were so many examples of fashion and how it has evolved over time. It was great to be able to see so many women represented in the exhibit .
• What do you wish was different…I wish there was more marketing and advertising for Iowa students to learn more about.
• Anything else…no answer provided.

Hispanic, Black/African American, woman, 21, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, National Museum of African American History and Culture.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….This is powerful.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, Women of color are never represented in media. And on predominantly white campus’s their ideas are usually brushed off to the side. To have a space where we can share our stories and feel powerful in our identities is very meaningful.
• What did you most enjoy…The large prints of women I know around the room. They’re all so beautiful and so powerful and I just need little black girls to see this to know that their stories are valid too.
• What do you wish was different…I wish it was a bigger exhibit.
• Anything else…Thank you for putting this together. I had to sit down in the museum after seeing and reading it all from getting emotional. I actually said out loud to myself, “This is so powerful.”

As a Black woman you related to…

• Messages of strength because…Yes, because, Oni said it best, “I always try to wear stuff that speaks for me when I don’t feel like speaking.”
• 90s Throwback because…Yes, because, the high waisted pants, the geometric and colorful prints, and combat boots are my go tos.
• Self-Created Expression because…Yes, because, sometimes we don’t find clothing that represents us, so we make it ourselves.
• Powerful Words because…Yes, no reason provided. (N/A)
• Black Girl Accessories because…Yes, because aAn earring or bracelet covered in your favorite kente cloth is a great way to give a simple outfit a statement piece.
• Pride in Skin Tone because…Yes, because, yYes we love to see that melanin glow!
• Cause Solidarity because…Yes, because, cClothing is a great way to show our brothers and sisters we stand with them.
• Fearless Expression because…Yes, no reason provided. (N/A)
• Connections to Roots because….Yes, because, knowing that you are wearing something from your aunties or your grandma is a great way to feel pride in your identity and show off the beauty of African prints.

White, woman, 54, staff, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…This was beautiful! I especially liked the large portraits of the interviewees.  Also loves the  mannequins’ skin tones!
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, There are a lot of white men featured prominently around campus.
• What did you most enjoy…The portraits reflected the women’s pride and strength. The mannequins felt lush. Like reading the booklet while I went through.
• What do you wish was different…The volume on the interviews was low.
• Anything else…Thanks!!

Asian/Malaysian, woman, 20, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color.

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….I was expecting to see more styles at this exhibition. I feel very comfortable to visit because it represents black women’s culture, which is similar to my home country’s culture.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think it is just part of the styles of black women. I observed that most of them are colorful but most of them are for summer and autumn. I would like to know more styles that they wear during winter.
• What did you most enjoy…I am really enjoying when I browsed around, especially the pictures that hanging on the wall because they are very attractive for me.
• What do you wish was different…As I answered previously the question, I wish there are more different designs that can be seen in the exhibition. More different styles might help us to highlight the differences of styles from their culture.
• Anything else…In point of view, I really like your exhibition. I never have a chance to visit an exhibition that related to black culture. It helps me to broaden my view of a different culture. Also, I am appreciated that I do not need to pay for visiting this exhibition. Thank you for your hard work.

Hispanic, man, 20, student, lives in  Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No
• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…Its empowering, and knowing they are spreading awareness for their culture is an example that should be followed by all ethnicities and to be proud of it.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think it’s because nowadays there are an increasing number of minorities breaking through and having an impact on society. And knowing it’s happening at ISU is an even greater achievement, that signifies their impact is reaching others.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed all aspects, but what intrigued me was the Matriarch. Knowing the story behind it and how it inspires Vashalice to become a greater version of herself.
• What do you wish was different…I think there was a lot of modern activist apparel, but I would’ve liked to see older apparel from the 1900’s. I think there could be more empowering clothing or phrase that could be used. Overall it was a great experience.
• Anything else…The size of the museum was appealing, knowing I could learn a lot of everything, whereas if it was larger I would’ve learned less. I enjoyed my time there.

White, woman, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, there have been exhibits at the Minneapolis Institute of Art focused on specific artists. Some have been on women artists, some of been artists of color.  One was on a specific woman of color’s art.  I don’t remember her name because the exhibit was a while ago.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….I think it was good to see women of color in a museum exhibition.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think the inclusion was good because it is something that rarely occurs and needs to happen more.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed the videos and the texts provided. They provided insight into the garments and their use in the exhibit.
• What do you wish was different…No answer provided.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White, woman, 20, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….I like the exhibition, and I especially liked that it was women of color who were being represented.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, I have not seen much of this represent ion in our area.
• What did you most enjoy…I like the self created expression portion the most because it really gave a personalized feel on the exhibition.
• What do you wish was different…I wished more people were represented.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White or Native/Indigenous, woman, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…To see women of color in a museum it made me proud as a person who lives in a society where I believe everyone should be treated the same. To see we have come far enough to display women of color is enlightening to see.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, knowing that people of color in general don’t get that much representation as a whole because that is just how our society is made me happy to see that women of color are getting representation in a museum.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed the quotes that the three women put on the wall, it gave insight as to who they are as people.
• What do you wish was different…I wouldn’t change anything about the exhibit it gave a lot of insight of how women of color dressed then and now even in multiple different styles.
• Anything else…No it was a really put together exhibit!

White, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….I think that it is empowering for women of color. They get to see themselves and their culture represented in the exhibition.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think if more women of color were represented in museum exhibitions there would be more acceptable for the style and culture. Women and people of color would be more confident to be themselves.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed learning about the diverse culture and different types of clothing that make up Black Women’s Style.
• What do you wish was different…I honestly wish that the exhibit was larger so I could see more of the style because I thought it was beautiful and unique.
• Anything else…I loved the display for the clothing and the reasoning behind wearing the clothes.

Asian, woman, 20. Student, lived in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I felt really represented while looking at all the mannequins of different sizes, shapes, and colors. I could really tell that the curators put a lot of thought into the each detail. Representation is so important in different races, genders, and body types. Thank you for doing this.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I would love to see more women in museums because our stories are often overshadowed and untold. I would love to see people like me curating, creating, and telling my stories or similar stories.
• What did you most enjoy…I loved the graphic tees and the explanations on how graphic tees allow black women to defy the patriarchy and societal norms. I love how each piece of clothing told an individual story but it connected to the central theme of representation.
• What do you wish was different…I would love to see how the evolution of black women fashions across time. The exhibition depicted a bit of it but it would be cool to see a progression of design choices as the times have changed.
• Anything else…Thank you for this. I went into the gallery alone and for a while, I was just suspended in awe and appreciation for all that the visit meant. I could feel the history and passion devoted to creating this piece. Thank you.

Asian, woman, 20, student, lived in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I felt really represented while looking at all the mannequins of different sizes, shapes, and colors. I could really tell that the curators put a lot of thought into the each detail. Representation is so important in different races, genders, and body types. Thank you for doing this.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I would love to see more women in museums because our stories are often overshadowed and untold. I would love to see people like me curating, creating, and telling my stories or similar stories.
• What did you most enjoy…I loved the graphic tees and the explanations on how graphic tees allow black women to defy the patriarchy and societal norms. I love how each piece of clothing told an individual story but it connected to the central theme of representation.
• What do you wish was different…I would love to see how the evolution of black women fashions across time. The exhibition depicted a bit of it but it would be cool to see a progression of design choices as the times have changed.
• Anything else…Thank you for this. I went into the gallery alone and for a while, I was just suspended in awe and appreciation for all that the visit meant. I could feel the history and passion devoted to creating this piece. Thank you.

Asian, woman, 20, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….I really enjoyed seeing the meaning behind the fashion and pieces of the exhibit. I specifically enjoyed the Black Girl Accessories. I really enjoy jewelry and it is nice to see how jewelry is a representation of identity and can be cultural as well.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I would like to know more about the different cultures on the perspective of the woman. It would be nice for me to see Asian women culture through an expression of fashion.
• What did you most enjoy…I really liked the case that displayed all the different outfits together. It was interesting to see the clothing as a representation of a person so in that case, it was not just mannequins, but people.
• What do you wish was different…None.
• Anything else…No.

White, woman, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I through it was really interesting to see how fashion has evolved and ideas we’ve created from their culture.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think it something we don’t see a lot of and we need to familiarize ourselves with it.
• What did you most enjoy…I loved looking at the clothing and different styles and accessories they had, Its really cool to see all the diverse styles.
• What do you wish was different…I wish it was more relevant and more noticed by our society today so that people would understand where we’ve come from and how we’ve evolved.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

Latino/a/x, Hispanic, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….I think it is a fantastic way to educate others. It is really cool way to get people to learn more about women specifically black women.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I answered question number 8 the way I did because I have never been to a museum exhibit that was all about women. Specifically black women.
• What did you most enjoy…I really enjoyed reading the testimony’s on the wall. One of them was explaining why Docs were her favorite shoe to wear.  She explained that they were basically a way to symbolize her revolting against class-ism.
• What do you wish was different…I wish there was a larger space in order to provide more items for display.
• Anything else…I really enjoyed viewing the different outfits and accessories. Thank you for this opportunity to see these.

White, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought this exhibition was very powerful and made me more aware of the clothing styles of African American women.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think it is important for people to be aware of every culture and their views on fashion. I would love to see more women of color represented in museums.
• What did you most enjoy…I really enjoyed the powerful words part of the exhibition. It was interesting to read all of the quotes on the shirt that empower women.
• What do you wish was different…I wish it was in a place that was more known to the public. It is a cool museum, it would be nice if more people knew about it.
• Anything else…I really enjoyed this museum and I felt it was well thought out. It was not only aesthetically pleasing but it was also very informational.

Asian, man, 19, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I felt proud, being able to see a person of color being represented in a museum just shows that minorities are becoming more and more powerful each and every day. Sooner or later we will have a great percentage of not only women of color being shown but more minorities as a whole.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I believe that we have transitioned into a time where there is less segregation of women of color and non women of color. Adding more women of color will empower young individuals to believe and dream of doing something big as this.
• What did you most enjoy…As someone who has never been to a museum before, I enjoyed the entire process. It was interesting seeing so many pieces that were focused on Black women.
• What do you wish was different…Despite this museum being focused on Black women, I would love to see more minority women. This will ultimately create a bigger audience which will create a much larger impact.
• Anything else…Overall a great job in presentation to catch people’s eye as well as being informative.

White, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, in Washington DC I went to the African American History museum and saw a picture called Brown Sisters Walk to School among many others.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I liked that the women were expressing what dress was like for their culture and the colors they liked to use with their skin color. I also liked the descriptions and titles of the apparel and the way the clothing was depicted through the title. I also really liked looking at the powerful messages t-shirts.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I answered #8 the way I did because I enjoyed seeing the different styles of black culture through the times.
• What did you most enjoy…I most enjoyed the styles through time because i thought it was really cool how some of the styles stayed similar and how new styles were created from the old styles.
• What do you wish was different…I wish there were more descriptions on the clothing and how it can tie into culture because being white I don’t know as much about style and culture as a black person might.
• Anything else…Nope.

Asian, man, 20, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I think they analyze the ways black women college students attending predominately white institutions in Iowa express their black identity, activism, and expressions of empowerment through fashion.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…No, for black women college students, dress can be a form of empowerment and authenticity. They have unique styles that reflected their blackness in varied ways.
• What did you most enjoy…I really enjoy seeing their self-created jacket. They have a hand-print jacket, and the owner shows her support for the Black Lives Matter movement. This is a unique, hand-made design, which really interested me, I like unique things.
• What do you wish was different…I wish it could show us more different styles, and hopefully have some explanation on the side of their exhibits, such as what this styles represent.
• Anything else…Thank you for letting us know a different culture. I am an Asian, I am willing to learn more about different cultures through the exhibition, because it’s intuitive.

Asian, man, 25, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I think this is a great thought to let students know more different cultures in the world.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, because students should seen more cultures that are different than themselves.
• What did you most enjoy…“Pride in skin tone” Because as a people, we should proud of everything on ourselves. So I like the pride in skin tone, it shows what we are.
• What do you wish was different…I think the exhibition is great that I don’t think of anything to change.
• Anything else…Great exhibition! I like it!

White, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a woman of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…It was empowering and challenging. The various wardrobe exhibitions were beautiful, challenging, and powerful. they truly spoke volumes. You don’t see many things like this in Ames, or where I am from and it’s incredible to see this leap taken. It is empowering and inspiring. I especially loved the exhibit about engineering and “yes i can!” I thought it was so interesting that they spoke to this and African America women working in a predominantly white and male field. Of the 10+ sections of the Collegiate Fashion and Activism exhibition, this section stood out the most to me. This makes me realize how underrepresented women of color are in museum exhibition and it made me incredibly sad.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I have gone to so many museums with my family over the years in my hometown, on trips, for school, etc. you always see white men and women, sometimes black men depending on the museum and the exhibition, but you rarely see african american women represented, let alone in such a positive light. (at least at the ones I have been to.) I feel that both African american men and women are incredibly underrepresented in a positive and empowering light in many exhibitions and I hope that this changes in the future- and very soon.
• What did you most enjoy…I loved all of the wardrobes and how each was themed and empowering in its own way for African American women and things that they have persevered through and are still persevering through. it focuses on women leaders, fearless expression of their culture, courage, and bravery. As I mentioned earlier, my favorite was most definitely the section on the engineering theme!
• What do you wish was different…There was not a lot that I wish was different. I definitely learned a lot and was very empowered by what was shown in the sections.
• Anything else…It was beautiful and I learned a lot. I am glad I came to this and was able to experience this. I’m so amazed at everything that women have done and how incredible we all are (:

White, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I think it is great that women of color are being represented in the Collegiate Fashion and Activism: Black Women’s Style on the College Campus exhibition.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think that more museums should represent women of color because I believe everyone should be treated equally and we should learn more of their story.
• What did you most enjoy…I like the black lives matter jacket that is painted. I think it is stylish and also represents a good message and spreads awareness.
• What do you wish was different…I think it would be great if more people knew about the different exhibits. I just heard about it through a class, so I think there should be more word spread around to take a closer look at it.
• Anything else…I think it’s great to represent women of color.

White, woman, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I loved finally seeing the diversity and it made me really proud of my school.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, no answer provided.
• What did you most enjoy…No answer provided.
• What do you wish was different…No answer provided.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

Hispanic/white, man, 20, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, in Puerto Rico. I do not recall the name of the exhibit.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I feel like I learned a bit of history.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, in Puerto Rico it’s relatively common as black history is a part of our overall history, in the states I have not seen much.
• What did you most enjoy…The fashion pieces along side their history.
• What do you wish was different…It should be advertised more.
• Anything else…Good job!

White, woman, 22, student, lives in Iowa while in school, otherwise lives in Illinois, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, the current temporary exhibition at the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum. I also remember seeing one at Tate Modern in London, the V&A in London, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the modern art museums in Denver and Madison, but only just recently, and only a few were modern day works. I have seen women of color represented more and more in recent years, but their representation was never common in the art museum space. It seems that the places I have seen entire exhibitions on current day artist women of color are in more of contemporary and modern art spaces, but they are the most inspiring exhibitions I have experienced.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I felt so full to see women represented in the design space as a space dedicated for them. It felt so needed and so special. It was so new, inviting, and refreshing to hear about fellow students on campus and how much their colored identities empower them and contain so much meaning, beyond more than I will ever fully understand as a white woman. It was amazing to know about how precious and prideful fashion is and how the origins of so many fashions uniquely stem from black culture.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I felt a sense of the courage and pride described by the interviewed women and felt so comfortable in the space because I know and feel so strongly about the need for women of color representation in the museum exhibition environment. It was refreshing because it is not done often enough, and women of color belong in the museum space, and not only do they belong here, they are needed here and deserve to be honored in this space all the time.
• What did you most enjoy…The video interviews were so insightful, the large portraits were so important and expressive, the use of different colored mannequins were so important and effective, and the information was clear and easy to read. The black paper with white text was all the more effective for this exhibition, emphasizing the pride of blackness. I loved all of it! The list goes on…
• What do you wish was different…The only thing I would love to see in the exhibition is the inclusion of object descriptions and origins for each clothing item. I read and researched the exhibition extensively and also attended its opening lecture, which had so many amazing details that would be awesome to have out with each piece (for those that just pop in to glance around and are lazy readers).
• Anything else…I could write a novel on how important this exhibition is, and how much the content within it has left a lasting positive impact on my experience as a student at Iowa State. Exhibitions of this kind need to always be here, and make me feel immensely proud to be an ISU student. These need to continue!

White, man, 19, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought it was empowering and represented a whole lot from such a small exhibit.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think that people of color deal with a lot and get misrepresented or stereotyped a lot. It was cool to see different backgrounds of women of color and to learn more about them.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed how their was a place to watch videos and hear more about women of color. I also enjoyed to structure and the welcome feeling of seeing the exhibit and everything in it.
• What do you wish was different…I wish there was someone in here to just give us clarification but not follow our every move but to just get more information.
• Anything else…I like the how everything was set up and how there was a catalog to get more information about the different pieces that were shaped and formed by women of color.

White, man, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought that the clothing hat was displayed in the museum was very interesting and I think that it would fit in with modern day trends. I felt like it brought out cool aspects into the museum.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think that the clothing pieces displayed in the exhibit were very interesting and cool because the garments used are garments that are worn in today’s trends and the messages on clothing is relevant with the events going on in our society today.
• What did you most enjoy…I thought it was cool that most of the pieces used had denim on them and lots of bright colors.
• What do you wish was different…I think the exhibit should have brighter lights so that way it is easier to see the pieces.
• Anything else…No I think the exhibit was very interesting!

White, woman, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I feel like this was good because it contributed to the involvement of diversity on campus.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I feel like society doesn’t disperse recognition equally and this would help change that.
• What did you most enjoy…I liked the 90s throwback because it was interesting to learn more about fashion among diversities.
• What do you wish was different…I wish there was more information about the intention of each fashion piece because I like learning about the reasoning people use to make decisions.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a woman of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I feel like everyone deserves to be showcased and that this was the time for the women of color to be represented in the Collegiate Fashion & Activism exhibition.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, everyone deserves to be treated equally and if in the past there were exhibits about white women fashion, asian women fashion, mens fashion, then it only makes sense for there to be a women of color in a museum exhibition.
• What did you most enjoy…I really liked how they use people own quotes under the photos they had. The way they each described their outfit was very well done to the point where you don’t just get their outfit but you feel as though you get to know their personality in it too.
• What do you wish was different…I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and don’t have any idea on how to change it to make it better. I loved it!
• Anything else…I enjoyed reading about all the information that some I knew but most I did not!

Asian, man, 23, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…Its awesome.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I love seeing minorities represented in culture.
• What did you most enjoy…I liked all the traditional African textiles presented.
• What do you wish was different…I wish more people went.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White, woman, 20, student, Lives in Minnesota, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, Cape May, New Jersey, Harriet Tubman Museum of Cape May
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I think this is a very smart way to help people learn more about women of color and their style.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I answered number 8 the way I did because I believe a lot of people are not aware of the styles of women of color than they are of white women.
• What did you most enjoy…I most enjoyed the photography in the exhibition. It helped me learn by viewing instead of just reading.
• What do you wish was different…I wish that they could incorporate men into this even though the exhibition is focuses on women. I think it is important to include both genders because then people are equally aware of men and women of color.
• Anything else…No.

White, woman, 20, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, when I was in Chicago they had an exhibit showing all of the impactful women in today’s society.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I enjoyed the exhibit as you do not see woman of color often being represented in today’s society. I think that it is important for women of color to be represented as they have led some of the most impactful movements.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, I would like to see a good mix. Sometimes when people want change they change too much or overdo it and then that thing starts to lose its meaning. With a good mix, it will still have an impactful meaning without being too repetitive.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed the overall set up of the exhibit as it was easy to follow and had a good flow.
• What do you wish was different…One thing that I wish was a bit different was in some of the sections I wish there were a few more articles that represented it.
• Anything else…Great Job!

Asian/Malaysian, woman, 20, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…It was a mind opening experience because I never really wondered how they would be dressed differently compared to other races. I felt really inspired because I liked some of their styles.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, to me, it feels like it sets aside the inequality and privileges when more women of color are represented in museum exhibitions
• What did you most enjoy…Being able to admire the unique styles that reflected who they are in varied ways was something that I really enjoyed. It’s very heartwarming to be able to see people radiate empowerment, joy and authenticity with the way they style themselves.
• What do you wish was different…I don’t think that there’s anything I wish to be different.
• Anything else…I really enjoyed this museum exhibition! It was a really good experience for me.

White, woman, 20, student, lives in Iowa while going to school, originally from Illinois, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, at the Chicago art and history museum
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I was very fond of it actually! I love learning about other styles and cultures.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, it is a great way to gain perspective as well as knowledge of different cultures.
• What did you most enjoy…I really enjoyed the different style of dress on the mannequins, so I could really get a feel for what it would be like in real life.
• What do you wish was different…I wish more people knew about it!
• Anything else…Amazing job! loved visiting!

White, man, 18, student/remodeling, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought it was great, I know they have very deep history and culture and it is amazing that it is being shown off on a campus that is predominantly white.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I believe that all history and culture deserves to be represented and it also allows those people to have more pride in their culture.
• What did you most enjoy…I really enjoyed some of the intricate patterns displayed on the clothing. The reason its my favorite aspect is because I just finished a recent project in design where we designed different patterns and I was just able to really appreciate the amount of precision that had to go into that type of work.
• What do you wish was different…I didn’t really see anything that I disliked.
• Anything else…I would just like to say that I love that they take pride in their work and should continue to do that because all cultures deserve to be embraced and showed off.

White, woman, 19, student, did not list residence, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, in Pine Ridge, South Dakota I visited the Red Cloud Indian School and they have a museum that represents Native Americans including women.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought the exhibition was beautiful! It was nice to learn more about how African American women dress and why they dress that way. I enjoy having opportunities to learn more about other cultures and how to respect them. For example, I had no idea that a Black woman started the bellbottom jeans trend. Black women began many of the most popular trends in fashion, and I was completely unaware of this.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think there should be a lot more representation of women of color in museum exhibitions—the lack of representation results in a missed opportunity to learn about their rich and meaningful culture.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed the large print images of the women who contributed their clothing and input to the exhibition. It was empowering as a woman to see these lovely ladies feeling and looking so confident in their skin. Seeing them embracing and expressing pride in their culture was a beautiful sight to behold.
• What do you wish was different…I do not wish that anything about the exhibit was different. It was fascinating and informative. If anything, it would have been nice if the exhibition was more extensive. I would have loved to learn even more information about Black women’s style on the college campus.
• Anything else…Congratulations on a successful and highly informative exhibition! Thank you for allowing Iowa State students to learn about Black women’s style on campus.

White, woman, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought that this was really cool and empowering to see women of color represented in the exhibition.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I answered the way that I did because this is something very important to our society and something that I often forget but care about. It is important to have equal representation.
• What did you most enjoy…I most enjoyed the black girls accessories. This was cool to me because it was such a wide variety of style.
• What do you wish was different…There is noting about this that I wish was different other than the way it is advertised. If my teacher hadn’t mentioned it I wouldn’t have even known about it.
• Anything else…Nothing else, It was great.

White, woman, 20, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…It makes me happy that these women of color are represented in this exhibition.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I love to educate myself of things and women of color is a topic I don’t know much about. It would be great to see more representation.
• What did you most enjoy…The booklet to read about the different pieces because it was very informing.
• What do you wish was different…I wish there was more light in the room to read the booklet better and even see the pieces better.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White, woman, 18, student, lives in Texas, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, in Chicago.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…It was shown well.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, there isn’t much representation of women of color in museums.
• What did you most enjoy…All the different clothes.
• What do you wish was different…That there was more to see.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White, woman, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…No answer provided.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, there is not as much representation of women of color in museum exhibitions. They deserve more credit and the same recognition as everyone else.
• What did you most enjoy…I liked the pictures on the wall where the women wore the clothing that was displayed. It helped capture their beauty and the point of the exhibition.
• What do you wish was different…I wish there was more clothes and information because the space was pretty small.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

Asian/Indian, woman, 24, student, lives in Iowa, does not provide identification

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…It was great to see a full line of clothes that exhibits women of color. I think diversity is necessary, especially in a state like Iowa.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, I am from India, and a brown person myself. And although I have not had many racial discriminatory experiences, I have heard of friends going through things like that. I think that the only way to overcome that would be by educating people and spreading awareness, and these exhibits help do that.
• What did you most enjoy…To learn that hoop earrings represent the Black identity was very interesting to me, I always thought hoops are versatile and I have worn them all the time. But this was completely new to me and I enjoyed learning about different styles adopted by the participants.
• What do you wish was different…No answer provided.
• Anything else…Congratulations and great job!

Asian, man, 27, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I don’t feel based on the fact that women of color represented exhibition. I just thought like ‘Oh well, she may a famous in fashion industry’.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, because I don’t judge  represented of exhibition based on their color.
• What did you most enjoy…It was quite comfy and I felt free since there was no one to explain me something.
• What do you wish was different…I think it lacks some variety. I believe there are more of fashion’s for black women.
• Anything else…No.

White, woman, 21, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought the exhibition was very informational and interesting. I learned a lot.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think it’s interesting and it’s true that women of color are not talked about, and their struggles they may face.
• What did you most enjoy…I really just enjoyed reading all of the information and learning about it.
• What do you wish was different…I didn’t notice anything that I thought should be different.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

Asian, woman, 21, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site (Little Rock Nine).
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….It was interesting.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think it would be nice to see more women of color represented in museum exhibitions. It would also be nice to see other women with different ethnicities represented as well.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed seeing that women of color are still proud of their heritage and more traditional dress. For example, the matriarch display was really touching. Also, it was nice seeing that women of color now have the freedom to be able to communicate messages through their dress, as seen in the messages of strength and powerful words displays.
• What do you wish was different…It would have been nice to know before viewing the exhibit that the information packets on the table inside the exhibit room gave more information about each display. I didn’t realize this and wish I could have read what was in the packet as I viewed the displays.
• Anything else…Thank you for setting up this exhibit. Everything was presented nicely.

White, man, 20, student, lives in Illinois, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought that is was very interesting to learn about and see the women of color in the exhibit.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, It would be interesting to see more and to learn more about women of color in the past as well as the present.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed seeing the different pictures. I got to see how these women expressed themselves and felt empowered through their fashion.
• What do you wish was different…N/A. Everything was represented well.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White, woman, 54, staff, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…It was a beautiful collection. I learned a lot about the meaning behind Black women’s choices. It’s a lot different than my approach to fashion and made me not only appreciate the weight of needing to be an activist but to how empowering these statements are.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, let’s be real, it’s time.
• What did you most enjoy…The pairings of different women’s clothes really brought home that these themes live deep in the black community.
• What do you wish was different…I wish the museum was open longer!
• Anything else…Awesome show!

Asian, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…It seems like they are greatly confident at that they are black women. Also, their clothes were more characterful than I expected.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, because I thought that their clothing would be just normal like others. However, their clothes were showing strongly that they are black women by the words on the clothes.
• What did you most enjoy…I really liked their powerful words because it was showing their confidence at once.
• What do you wish was different…No it was good enough. If I should write down the thing to be different, I would say larger space and more products.
• Anything else…It was good to see black women’s stories.

White, man, 20, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I felt like it was something that I appreciated and was happy to see and learn about. I think it really gave me more insight into African American culture and gave me some knowledge.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, being from Chicago I have been to a few museums in my life and I cannot recall seeing very many women if color at the museums. I think it would be good to pick those numbers up in the future.
• What did you most enjoy…One aspect I really liked was the glass case of “Powerful Words” clothing. I really liked this because it is a current thing that many people of color are doing to voice their thoughts on social justice and other problems in society. I also liked the throwbacks exhibit because I am not too familiar with any pre 1990s African American culture and dress really.
• What do you wish was different…One aspect I wish was different would be some of the pictures behind the glass wall. I think they definitely have meaning but they just seem like very mainstream and normal so I am not sure how much value they really hold to the reasoning for the museum itself.
• Anything else…Overall I liked the museum and think that there is tons of knowledge to be gained in there for someone like me who may not be fully informed on women of color. It is a great source of information and in total just helps with a general understanding.

White, woman, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I really enjoyed it!
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I really like to see different types of people.
• What did you most enjoy…Everything because it was so good.
• What do you wish was different…Nothing it was all good.
• Anything else…No, I enjoyed the exhibition so much! Very well put together.

White, woman, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I have been to many art exhibits and I am sad to admit that I never noticed the lack of black women representation. This exhibit was informative and empowering to be able to see how so many people can use dress in order to express themselves.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, did not provide a reason why.
• What did you most enjoy…I liked the older clothes especially the 70s outfit that really showed a mix of modern and traditional styles.
• What do you wish was different…No answer provided.
• Anything else…I really enjoyed the overall set up and all of the clothing examples that were shown and explained.

White, woman, 21, student, Lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I felt that this exhibition was very interesting and was well presented and displayed. It made me feel proud to see that people are promoting change and doing something about it. I think it is very important to stand in what you believe in and that is exactly what was done
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I feel being a woman, especially of color automatically puts a target on individuals backs. We as women have had many years of oppression but when it comes to women of color its and entirely different story. I love that the artist of the exhibition stripped the mannequins of their white/cream colored cloth and re-layed brown colored canvas on them to display a woman’s Blackness.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed the themes that were explained throughout the exhibition. It showed the amount of research done for the exhibit and how history is still prominent within today’s society and how women of color dress and express themselves.
• What do you wish was different…I wouldn’t change anything, I thought it was very well executed.
• Anything else…Great work!

White, woman, 21, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I felt empowered.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I believe that women in color are not seen very much especially in Iowa and it was nice to see their culture and experience more.
• What did you most enjoy…Learning about all the different experiences.
• What do you wish was different…No answer provided.
• Anything else…Looks great!

Asian, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I felt the power of Black Women’s style of fashion.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, It is because I do not have any experience of it, but I learn many things from the gallery.
• What did you most enjoy…I like how they changed the styles form the past.
• What do you wish was different…I want some trendy clothing because everything was looked old, but it was good.
• Anything else…Nothing.

White, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…No answer provided.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, did not provide a reason why.
• What did you most enjoy…It was very eye-catching and interesting to look at.
• What do you wish was different…No answer provided.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White, woman, 20, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, did not provide the museum/or exhibition.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…No answer provided.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, did not provide a reason why.
• What did you most enjoy…No answer provided.
• What do you wish was different…No answer provided.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

Asian/Chinese, man, 21, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…No answer provided.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…No answer provided.
• What did you most enjoy…No answer provided.
• What do you wish was different…No answer provided.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White, woman, 20, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought it was interesting to see something not usually seen in a museum exhibition.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, I don’t remember seeing a specific women of color exhibition when I went to the Art Institute of Chicago, and they didn’t have clothing as an art form on display, so it was interesting to me to see both represented in a museum exhibition.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed seeing the fashion on the stands and the variety of styles being shown.
• What do you wish was different…I wish there were more labels on the exhibits instead of just being in a booklet, so it would be easier to see the background of each piece.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White, man, 19, student with part time job, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I love to see different history and different cultures all around the world. I love seeing how other people have had different experiences throughout their life.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, I answered the question of what I thought about the women of color. I think it was an amazing idea and I am glad that they do that for everyone to learn about different things in life.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed learning what people wore and what they thought about everything, it was a great experience throughout the whole museum and I want to go back and show my friends.
• What do you wish was different…I do not wish it was different because that is what they did and wore. I do want to change anyone’s past and I do not hope it is changed in what they do for the museum.
• Anything else…Keep doing what you are doing.

Asian/White, genderqueer/agender/transgender,18, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I got pretty emotional and wanted to cry. I really loved the exhibit and am super passionate about visibility and representation. Even though I don’t identify as a woman, I am afab and a person of color and seeing women of color represented was honestly an amazing experience.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I strongly believe in the importance of representation and visibility and WOC have been pushed to the side for a long time.
• What did you most enjoy…I really loved the slogan tees and self created expression. I really love wearing those types of clothing myself and related to them strongly. I also think they looked the coolest. I also really appreciate the online website part so that I can go back and look at info.
• What do you wish was different…I wish it was even bigger and received more attention, it is honestly an an amazing exhibit.
• Anything else…You did a great job!

Black/African American, woman, 19, student, lives Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I think it is a great learning experience for all people to understand what it is like to live as a woman of color and how they choose to express themselves.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I feel like women of color don’t get enough credit and visibility that they deserve. often times you see bits and pieces of a woman of color given credit for what they have done or who they are, they don’t always show the full picture.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed seeing the different types of pieces each person choose that connected them to their own identity personally.
• What do you wish was different…I wish it was more diverse. Honestly the campus is really white and it’s hard to connect with someone who can relate to you.
• Anything else…I think this exhibition was great and very educational.

As a Black woman you related to…

• Messages of strength because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• 90s Throwback because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Self-Created Expression because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Powerful Words because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Black Girl Accessories because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Pride in Skin Tone because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Cause Solidarity because…Maybe, no reasoning provided.
• Fearless Expression because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Connections to Roots because….Yes, no reasoning provided.

Asian, woman, 20, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….I feel really informed and inspired by seeing women of color be represented in an exhibition.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think people of color, especially women should be represented in museum exhibitions so that people can learn about their backgrounds and be educated about their experiences and upbringings.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed looking at all of the outfits that were displayed in the museum, they had all different types of styles and body types for mannequins which I don’t see often.
• What do you wish was different…I don’t think I wish anything was different, I thought the exhibition was very straightforward on what they wanted to achieve and what they want the viewers, or attendees to look for and understand when they attend.
• Anything else…I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition, I thought the interviewees were very interesting in regards to what they brought and what each item means to them.

Asian, woman, 23, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I feel those black women are strong. Their identities by color are direct to show me how they feel proud about their culture thing like that.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, it is my first time to exhibit the collection of black women fashion. The introduction showed in the museum is clear and help me to catch the theme. The categories of the style are organized well and I do learn how black women dress differently and symbolically.
• What did you most enjoy…I like the wall with the photos and descriptions of interviewees. Those help me to connect their identity, fashion, and thought together.
• What do you wish was different…The only concern I have is space. I did enjoy​ the exhibition but I want to discover more!
• Anything else…Thank you to bring this exhibition to many people. There’re not many ways to understand black women’s fashion, and you are doing a great job to bring these to people.

Asian/Chinese, man, 22, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, China. Everyone is colored people.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…They look attractive and fashionable for me.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, huge amount and amazing.
• What did you most enjoy…People of color are considered more fashionable and culture can get more in main stream.
• What do you wish was different More Asians. Make it multi-cultural.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

Black/African American, man, 22, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, The Martin Luther King museum in Memphis,TN.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….I was honestly shocked by it I didn’t know it was on campus.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, in my opinion women are the most powerful humans and they deserve a lot more respect than they get.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed the piece soon as you walked in straight ahead where it was the quotes and the two women.
• What do you wish was different…I honestly would say a bigger venue would be the only thing.
• Anything else…You all did a wonderful job.

Asian, man, 22, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, China, where everyone is with color
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….I feel great for it can be involved in main stream culture in U.S which give us more freedom of expression.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, mostly African American women.
• What did you most enjoy…Colored people are more likely to be involved in the main stream culture.
• What do you wish was different…More Asian people.
• Anything else…No.

Asian/White, man, 19, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought it was empowering and it was great to see a powerful representation of women of color.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, because I have never been to a museum where it was dedicated to representing women of color and I believe there should be more of such museums that represent women and just people of color in general.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed all of the variety of clothing and accessories on display and how the displays were organized as well.
• What do you wish was different…Having a bigger space to show everything might be helpful so displays aren’t as crammed together.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

Asian/White, man, 19, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought it was really important to have this exhibition of representing women of color. I thought it was very empowering and I enjoyed seeing the displays.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, Because I have never seen representation of women of color like this anywhere before and I think it is really important for this representation to be displayed. I think representation of women of color along with people of color in general is something we need more of.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed the the variety of the clothing and accessories that were on display, and the descriptions for what each display was for.
• What do you wish was different…Maybe having a larger space so the displays aren’t so close together, making it easier to view the displays.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

Native/Indigenous/Comanche, man, 66, actor, lives in Maryland, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, the women’s art museum and in DC, last year. The African American museum in DC last year. Am. Indian museum in DC last year
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…Very informative. It’s something i probably wouldn’t have thought about before seeing it.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I think we need to know more about all of us. Minorities don’t get the coverage because they are a smaller group in the population.  But also systemic (intentional and unintentional) racism further reduces and marginalizes underrepresented groups. Without prompting from the exhibit I probably wouldn’t have thought about how women of color choose to dress themselves. Now I know more about their thoughts, motivations and ideas, it’s really interesting.
• What did you most enjoy…I really like the creativity that these students put into the clothing like an art form. Particularly the blue dashiki, the coat about women’s hair and the 90s vest.
• What do you wish was different…It’s great. A very interesting subject. My only suggestion would be to add more hats and other extras ancillary to the clothes. Just make it bigger.
• Anything else…You have introduced me to a subject I probably would not have otherwise thought much about (which had been my experience with most museums!).

Native/Indigenous/Comanche, woman/two-spirit, 33, graduate assistant, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, I think there were a few mannequins in Black Fashion Designers that abstractly represented women of color
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…It was amazing to the see the representation!
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I am tired of only seeing rich white ladies and white fashion designers represented. They are not the totality of fashion or fashion history.
• What did you most enjoy…I thought the video was excellent and the large photos added allowed me to see further facets of the participants identities.
• What do you wish was different…I loved that the mannequins were covered to represent Black skin tones, but the mannequins need to be higher quality and reflect actual humans more. Having the sewing style mannequins makes it harder to imagine the clothes on real people
• Anything else…Great job!!!!!!

White, man, 21, student,  lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…It’s nice to take a deeper look at the culture of black woman. By looking at all the challenges they face on a daily basis it gives me a better understanding of the current societal situation.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, the challenges they face should be out there for people in similar situations to have something they can relate with and ultimately know how to navigate through this messed up world.
• What did you most enjoy…I enjoyed the fact that the pictures of all the black women were up on the walls. It tied a face to each garment which made me feel more of a connection when looking at them.
• What do you wish was different…The only thing I wish was different is if the space was a little bigger so each piece had a little bit more of a spotlight.
• Anything else…Great job!

Kazakh, man, 22, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…Supportive!.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, because black women are not represented as much, especially in the Midwest.
• What did you most enjoy…Clothing style! Very unusual patterns and colors.
• What do you wish was different…I honestly don’t know.
• Anything else…No.

Black/African American, woman, 23, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition….It was refreshing to see women of color represented in a fashion exhibition.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, a lot of fashion exhibitions don’t include women of color it was nice seeing us represented.
• What did you most enjoy…I liked Black girls Accessories its that on that resonated to me because I love accessories and its a form of self-expression.
• What do you wish was different…I wish there was more content since I really enjoyed it.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

As a Black woman you related to…

• Messages of strength because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• 90s Throwback because…Maybe, no reasoning provided.
• Self-Created Expression because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Powerful Words because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Black Girl Accessories because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Pride in Skin Tone because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Cause Solidarity because…Yes, no reasoning provided.
• Fearless Expression because…Yes, no reasoning provided
• Connections to Roots because….Yes, no reasoning provided.

White, woman, 18, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought seeing women of color represented in the Collegiate Fashion & Activism was a nice sign of respect and acceptance for them. I felt this was a good way of recognition for them.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I answered this question this way because I love seeing woman of all races be recognized. Women play an immense role in our world, so showcases them in a museum such as this one is very honorable.
• What did you most enjoy…One of my favorite aspects of this was the “Yes, I Can!” exhibit where an engineering student was showcased. Not only was she a female in engineering which is already rare, she was a black female. Female engineers and black engineers are not commonly seen, so I found this astonishing. I also enjoyed the “Black Girl Accessories” exhibit where various accessories and styles were shown that are wore by black women. This was cool because it showed how they use jewelry to be proud of who they are.
• What do you wish was different…I did not notice anything I wished was different or would like to change. The museum was put together nicely and very efficient yet informative.
• Anything else…This museum is a job well done and is a good attractive for everyone of all races and genders. It pays respect to black females and honors some of their accomplishments here at Iowa State. Great Job at this.

White, man, 21, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I think the exhibition did a very good job representing women of color in text, display, and visuals. I felt a sense of interest within the exhibition about the content and read/viewed the items thoroughly to learn about the topic.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, because I wanted to express the amount of effort and interest I gained in wanting to learn about the content once I arrived. Originally, I thought the exhibition was going to be a little less ‘informational’, but once I actually got there, I wanted to learn more about it because of the ways the topic was represented.
• What did you most enjoy…I really enjoyed the display content of the apparel. Main reason why is because there is a lot more value to seeing something when it is there versus seeing a picture of it, so having those items there on display really made me look at it more in depth, which produced more interest within myself on it.
• What do you wish was different…One thing I wish was different was the amount of things to show/display in the exhibition. It may have been because of the space and they were restricted, but it would have been really cool to possibly see this kind of exhibition in a bigger space to show more items to influence more interest and learning experience.
• Anything else…I believe what was presented was awesome to see, and being able to read about it while looking at the objects themselves was cool as well. One suggestion would be to expand it next time, but the overall exhibition was done well and I enjoyed the time being there.

White, woman, 65, high school teacher, lives in Maryland, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…Yes, National museum of African American history and culture, national museum of American Indians, other Smithsonian museums, national museum of women in the arts, national portrait gallery
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I loved it. I found it very moving and informative. It expresses a very important message.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, women of color have been seriously under-represented in our national culture and history. We need to pay attention to the experiences of minority groups in all parts of our society, especially in higher education.
• What did you most enjoy…I liked the focus on messages of strength and power. I also loved the beautiful colors and the clothing showing creative expression.
• What do you wish was different…There is nothing I wish was different.
• Anything else…This is a wonderful exhibit. It is educational, meaningful, necessary, and inspirational!

Asian, man, 21, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I didn’t saw them before, but I think it is a normal situation.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Maybe, I think it is reasonable and common. SO it is a normal situation.
• What did you most enjoy…No answer provided.
• What do you wish was different…No answer provided.
• Anything else…No answer provided.

White, woman, 24, student, lives in Iowa, does not identify as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I thought it was really nice to see an exhibition focused on black woman’s style. I’m not often exposed to this culture or style of dress so it was really nice to see and hear about this culture.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, I have never gone to a museum exhibition that was centered around women of color. I definitely want to see more in the future.
• What did you most enjoy…I really enjoyed the video interviews. It was nice to get a more intimate view into the participants thoughts about their dress.
• What do you wish was different…This exhibition was in a small space and it’d be really cool to see a bigger expedition about the subject.
• Anything else…Great work!

Black/African American, woman, 19, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…I loved it.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, because I am a black women.
• What did you most enjoy…All of it but mostly the clothes that I would wear.
• What do you wish was different…Nothing.

As a Black woman you related to…

• Messages of strength because…Maybe, no reasoning provided.
• 90s Throwback because…Maybe, No reasoning provided.
• Self-Created Expression because…Maybe, no reasoning provided.
• Powerful Words because…Maybe, no reasoning provided.
• Black Girl Accessories because…Maybe, no reasoning provided.
• Pride in Skin Tone because…Maybe, no reasoning provided.
• Cause Solidarity because…Maybe, no reasoning provided.
• Fearless Expression because…Maybe, no reasoning provided.
• Connections to Roots because…Maybe, no reasoning provided.
• Anything else…No.

Omani, man/two-spirit, 22, student, lives in Iowa, identifies as a person of color

• Have you seen women of color represented in museums before…No.
• What did you think about seeing women of color represented in the exhibition…No answer provided.
• Would you like to see more representation of women of color and why…Yes, representing women of color in museum exhibitions gives the feel of equality in a society where there are only white women.
• What did you most enjoy…The black women accessories, because of how most of the accessories represent them.
• What do you wish was different…Nothing honestly, I am completely satisfied with the way it is presented.
• Anything else…No answer provided.