Ann Arbor Times

The ‘Walk to Freedom’ Exhibit, initially displayed at the EMU Student Center Gallery, has been relocated to its permanent home at the EMU Honors College. The exhibit includes a LEGO mosaic and photo boards depicting the historic 1963 Walk to Freedom event in Detroit.

Biology professor Dr. Aaron Liepman created his fourth civil rights-themed LEGO mosaic for the exhibit. Liepman was inspired by the protests following George Floyd’s murder in 2021 to learn more about the civil rights movement.

“While researching the movement, I found many visually arresting images depicting civil rights trailblazers peacefully protesting. These images inspired me to try to render some of them as LEGO art,” said Liepman. “One of my goals was to spread awareness about civil rights through my artwork.”

Liepman chose LEGO pieces for their visual appeal across all ages, hoping they would spark deeper conversations about civil rights among young people and their caregivers. The mosaic consists of 30,000 hand-painted LEGO bricks and measures 8 feet by 5 feet. It is Liepman's largest mosaic to date and presented several challenges, including design and logistical hurdles.

Kevin Williams, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at EMU and a member of the MLK Planning Committee, led research efforts to identify photos that complement the mosaic. Williams explored the Walter Reuther Library archives at Wayne State University to find images that narrate the full story of Dr. King's arrival at Detroit Metropolitan Airport to the local NAACP chapter’s commemorative march during summer 2023.

“From the very beginning, this was a labor of love for me. I'm a proud native Detroiter, and the Detroit Walk to Freedom was a pivotal time in the city's history, as it was the largest civil rights event before the March on Washington D.C.,” stated Williams. “I love history, so combing through historic photos was an absolute treat for me.”

Visitors entering the Honors College building can view both the mosaic and photo boards.

"We're delighted to showcase the LEGO mosaic surrounded by photos from the Detroit march," said Dean Ann Eisenberg. “We invite all members of the EMU community to stop by to view the exhibit."

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