On August 22, 2025, the Museum opened its newest outdoor banner exhibit, Booker T. Spicely: Citizen, Soldier, Martyr, Hero, in partnership with the Booker T. Spicely Committee and with corporate support from Your Part-Time Controller (YPTC).

The exhibit honors Private First-Class Booker Spicely, a Black soldier stationed at Camp Butner during World War II who was fatally shot in Durham in 1944 after challenging segregation on a city bus. His story highlights the injustices faced by African Americans serving abroad while denied equal rights at home.

Guests joined Spicely Committee members for an evening of reflection, conversation, and remembrance. The outdoor exhibit, installed in the Museum’s sidewalk frames, is accessible to the public day and night, and guests at the reception were eager to read Booker Spicely’s story and the context provided by the comprehensive approach to the topic of racial discrimination in the U.S.

After MoDH Executive Director Patrick Mucklow opened with welcoming remarks, speakers included retired NCCU history professor (and former MoDH board member) Jerry Gershenhorn, who curated the exhibit content; Jo Palazuelos-Krukowski, Cultural & Public Art Program Coordinator for the City of Durham, which had funded the original version of the exhibit; and Artrelle Spicely, a member of Booker Spicely’s family who spoke movingly about his impact on their lives. FullSteam Brewery was kind enough to donate beer to the event, and Lulu & Sadie’s restaurant created a menu of delicious appetizers for all to enjoy!