Among the students in the Nettleton Elementary School first-grade class of 1962 is famed street photographer Wing Young Huie, seated in the middle of the second row. In August Huie was selected as the McKnight Foundation’s 2018 Distinguished Artist. He is the first photographer to receive the honor.

The Minnesota History Center in St.Paul is using the Nettleton class photo to promote a panel discussion event featuring Huie, titled “Examining American-ness,” which will be will be held on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.

The exhibit “Chinese-ness: Photographs by Wing Young Huie” is on display at the center from Sept. 11 to Nov. 11.

Below is the community panel discussion synopsis:

Photographer Wing Young Huie asks the question, “How does my Chinese-ness collide with my Minnesota-ness and my American-ness? And who gets to define those hyphenated abstract nouns?”

Explore the new free exhibit “Chinese-ness: Photographs by Wing Young Huie” then join a panel discussion on the layered experiences around identity, race, and culture. Panelists will be Wing Young Huie, Lizeth Gutierrez, and Lelna Desta with moderator David Lawrence Grant.