Manuel Acevedo's Newark Photographs Exhibited Across Five Wards

Over four decades after Manuel Acevedo started documenting the lives of Newark's people of color, his early black-and-white photographs are currently showcased throughout all five wards of the city in "Wards of Newark: Manuel Acevedo." Curated by Salamishah Tillet, who serves as the director of New Arts at Rutgers and is a contributing critic for The New York Times, this exhibition is a collaborative effort between Rutgers University-Newark and the City of Newark via New Arts. Acevedo, an alumnus of Newark's Arts High School (1982), dedicated five years to capturing thousands of images that highlight the Caribbean and African diaspora, countering negative media narratives. The photographs are prominently displayed in parks, busy intersections, and a train station. Additionally, a book featuring many of Acevedo's works will be released alongside the exhibition.