VR on Display

Celebrating the rich history of African Americans on Mondays during February which is known and celebrated as National Black History Month.

“MLK: Now is the Time” is an immersive journey that explores key themes of Dr. King's speech and highlights systemic inequities that persist in our society. Through first-person stories and interactions, “MLK: Now is the Time” drops you into a thoroughly modern interpretation of a contemporary March on Washington that will inform and inspire a new generation of activists".- the Meta Store

"What effect did the Fugitive Slave Law have on communities across the North before the Civil War? In this TimeSnap, players investigate the far-reaching consequences of the law by listening to historical figures, discovering primary sources, and asking probing questions. With evidence collected from three significant sites during the 1850s, players identify a range of effects, contextualize responses to the Fugitive Slave Law, and explain the law’s role in the deepening sectional crisis. TimeSnap is a 20-30 minute experience designed for use in high school American history classrooms and includes full lesson plans and materials from the project website. It also makes for a great standalone experience for history buffs of any age." - From the Meta Store

"Traveling While Black is a cinematic VR experience that immerses the viewer in the long history of restriction of movement for black Americans and the creation of safe spaces in our communities. Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams and Emmy Award-winning Felix & Paul Studios' film transports you to historic Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington DC. The viewer shares an intimate series of moments with several of the patrons of Ben's as they reflect on their experiences of restricted movement and race relations in the U.S. Confronting the way we understand and talk about race in America, Traveling While Black highlights the urgent need to not only remember the past but to learn from it, and facilitate a dialogue about the challenges minority travelers still face today."- From the Meta Store

"The People’s House takes you on a historic visit to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s White House. Through the transportive power of VR, the Obamas take you on an intimate journey inside the West Wing, Executive and Private Residences, reflecting on their time there, and recounting the building’s profound history since its creation over two centuries ago." -From the Meta Store

"Transport yourself back to the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, feel like you're with the 250,000 people who came to witness Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his "I Have a Dream" speech. The March 360 is an immersive VR film available on Meta Quest TV."

The VR narrative biography tells the story of Eartha Mary Magdalene White, North East florida native , Cofounder of the Clara White Mission. Her  life and all of her accomplishments are on display in this interactive and immersive experience. It also gives a glimpse into her home and base of operations which is now the Eartha M.M. White Museum located in Jacksonville FL.

The following are Virtual Reality Experiences that can be viewed in the Virtual learning Center using the Meta Quest platform:

1. IN PROTEST: Grassroots Stories from the Front Lines, a 360° film series chronicling the unsung heroes of the Black Lives Matter movement. The project honors lives lost while calling for renewed solidarity against racial injustice in America. Available in the Meta Quest TV App.  
2. Hulu’s Your Attention Please: Host Craig Robinson takes us on a journey into the lives, ideas, and dreams of a diverse group of Black innovators and creators who are leaving their mark on the world.  The 4 episodes are available in Meta Quest TV app.  
3. 360 tour of National Museum of African American History - Take a 360° look inside the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, courtesy of ABC News. This is available in the Meta Quest TV App
4. Visit Jacksonville 360 video- African American heritage Trail This is available on the YouTube VR  and Meta Quest TV apps
5. The World War II Foundation presents The Tuskegee Airmen- Young African-American men, eager to serve their country, had first to fight prejudice and systemic discrimination before they even faced the enemy. This is the story of the Army’s best kept secret during WWII – black combat pilots – the Tuskegee Airmen. Th is app is available in YouTube VR and Meta Quest TV apps.
6. Oakland VR-The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPP) was a revolutionary organization founded in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. The BPP advocated for Black nationalism, socialism, and armed self-defense. The BPP also campaigned for prison reform, voter registration, and free food programs.  The VR experience which tours the Black Panther Party's 1968 office in Oakland, California which was recreated in virtual reality (VR).
7. .Rosewood Heritage & VR Project- Explore the Historical Rosewood, Fl. an African American town destroyed during a 1923 race rio
8. Space Explorers The ISS Experience: with Victor Glover - Astronaut Victor Glover gives a tour of the ISS in this VR experience.  Glover is a NASA Astronaut, Captain with the US Navy, and member of the National Society of Black Engineers. Glover most recently served as pilot and second-in-command on the Crew-1 SpaceX Crew Dragon. He also served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 64.